Allison Pingel is quickly climbing the Three Rivers home run record list. The Lady Raiders' clean-up hitter had two home runs as Three Rivers beat Lyon College JV 14-2 in five innings Thursday at Rains Field. Pingel had a two-run homer in the first and a three-run homer in the third for her first multi-home run game. She also reached on an error in the second that scored a run, giving her six RBIs in three at-bats. Pingel has nine home runs through 23 games, putting her eighth on the single-season home run record list at Three Rivers (15-8), and has more than a month left in the season. Destiny Bolen is the single season leader with 15 home runs, set two years ago. Current Southeast Missouri State senior Abby Tillotson hit 12, Jessica Menz had 11, and four former Lady Raiders are tied with 10. "It's been pretty wild. We knew she had a little pop but we didn't expect anything like that," Three Rivers coach Jeff Null said. "It is a great start to her college career." Null added that Pingel came in as a line drive hitter and has made some adjustments to her swing to add more lift to the ball. She has bought in and has 39 RBIs and four doubles with a .899 slugging percentage and a .449 batting average. She has not gone more than four games without a home run this season. Nine of her 31 hits (29 percent) have been home runs. Three Rivers jumped on Lyon with four runs in the first inning and 14 through three. Ally Law and Kabrien Rogers added home runs in the third inning. Law had a solo home run immediately after Pingel cleared the bases, and after Sophie Wunderlich reached on an error, Rogers sent one over the fence to give the Lady Raiders three home runs out of four at bats. "The pitching was decent. Ally Law and Kabrien Rogers' home runs were both to right-center," Null said. "They are buying in to what we are trying to do and it is paying off for them, so hopefully that will grow some confidence." With a 13 run lead, Null made five different substitutions to give the starters some rest before a busy weekend with six Region XVI games against Crowder and MCC-Maple Woods. Summer Shockley, the team's No. 1 pitcher, also got the day off after appearing in six consecutive games. Kari Hatridge got the win and allowed seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts over four innings. Carleigh Burnett struck out the side in the fifth. Hatridge (1-2), in her second start of the season, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning with a comebacker. "She needed some work. She threw four and was really solid," Null said. "I thought they both threw pretty well. It was just a pretty solid day." Lyon stranded eight runners, including five in scoring position.

Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic