[September 09, 2011] Enterprise downs division rival Clarkdale Tweet ENTERPRISE, Sep 09, 2011 (The Meridian Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A big week turned into big wins for Enterprise. Facing a pair of reigning slow-pitch softball state champions in Division 6-2A play, the Bulldogs escaped unscathed following Thursday's 11-6 win against rival Clarkdale. Enterprise (11-2, 4-0) downed Union 17-4 on Tuesday. "People talk about the other two teams, and rightfully so because they are two very good teams," Enterprise coach Josh Perkins said. "You look at Union, they are quality and obviously Clarkdale is the defending 3A state champions, and we get stuck in a division with them, we just have to battle. "It was a huge week for us, but I just told them after the game, only two things I can promise them, if we're 4-4 we won't make the playoffs. We have four division games to go and if we end up 8-0, we'll win the district and go to the playoffs. That's the only two things we know for sure. "But it does put us in a nice position." The latest big win came after Clarkdale (11-2, 3-1) applied pressure with a rally in the fifth and sixth innings. After falling behind 7-1 through four frames, Clarkdale's offense finally started to produce. Heather Harwell singled with one out in the fifth and Haley Hutcherson followed with a double off a diving Morgan Porter's glove in centerfield to put runners on second and third. Leyanne Bozeman then popped out in foul territory however Harwell tagged and scored ahead of first baseman Randa Mathis' throw. Hutcherson then scored when Sarah Harris reached on a two-out error. An inning later, Lauren Thrash led off with a solo blast to center field on a 3-0 pitch and then Clarkdale began to take advantage of Enterprise miscues. After Molly McLeod singled with two outs, Tiffinie Carney's fly ball to right field dropped on an error that allowed a run to score and when Malauri Robinson's throw to third sailed high, Carney also scored to pull within 7-6. "It was just token effort," Clarkdale coach Rick Roberson said. "I thought it was just a token effort. We didn't have any life and didn't bring our best. We didn't compete. We just didn't compete like we should have. "I told the team yesterday our best would be required and they didn't play their best. When the best is required, you better play your best and we didn't." The host Bulldogs responded. Blakely Riley and Brittany Hagwood opened the bottom of the sixth with singles and after Porter hit into a fielder's choice, Hayleigh Harper walked to load the bases. Harley Smith then reached on an error and Mathis' fly ball to deep right field scored two as Clarkdale dropped the relay throw. Robinson then drove in the final run with a single up the middle. "We're right there in the bottom of the sixth and they've got some momentum," Perkins said. "But we had two at-bats left and they only had one, and that's the kind of approach we had to take. And it worked out for us." Trailing 1-0 after the top of the first when Lindsey Beard tripled off the 'E' in dead center to plate Thrash, Enterprise answered with consecutive singles from Harper, Smith and Mathis. The host Bulldogs then took the lead, which they wouldn't relinquish, in the second when Jess Turner doubled to lead off and courtesy runner Katie Jo Riley scored on a Blakely Riley sacrifice fly. After the heart of the order produced three runs in the third, highlighted by Smith's RBI double, the bottom of the Enterprise lineup again produced in the fourth. Blakely Riley led off with a double and Hagwood followed with a triple. She then scored on a Porter groundout. In the top of the fourth, Clarkdale loaded the bases with one out -- which was recorded when Thrash was struck by Beard's line drive -- but Enterprise escaped unscathed when McLeod hit into a double play. "We did what we needed to do," Perkins said. "We were fortunate to get out of some innings. I thought a huge play was when we got the double play to get out of a bases-loaded jam. "And I thought the bottom of our order was huge. You hit the ball on the barrel and good things happen. And it did tonight. It was a big win for us." Added Roberson: " Defense and the bottom of the order is always important in games like this, and their defense and the bottom of the order outhit us, so they deserved to win." ___ (c)2011 The Meridian Star (Meridian, Miss.) Visit The Meridian Star (Meridian, Miss.) at meridianstar.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]