ELIZABETHTOWN – Whiteville scored 6 runs in the final 3 innings to defeat East Bladen 7-2 Wednesday night Three Rivers Conference softball action.
The Lady Eagles took a 1-0 first-inning lead. Junior Erica McKoy cracked a one-out single. Senior Kaley Smith walked, and juniors Olivia Hollingsworth and Anna Kate White were both hit by pitches to force home McKoy.
Kourtney Grainger doubled and scored the tying run for Whiteville in the fourth, but the Lady Eagles went back on top 2-1 in the home fourth. White yanked a triple to leftfield and scored on senior Faith Johnson’s bunt single.
Raeganne Sholar slugged a 2-run home run in the top of the fifth to put the Lady Wolfpack ahead 3-2. Whiteville scored 2 runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to pad their lead.
McKoy batted 2-4 with a double and a run scored to lead the East Bladen hitters. White tripled, scored a run and drove in a run. Johnson had the run-scoring bunt single, and sophmore Johanna Parker connected for the other Lady Eagle hit.
Freshman Kayleigh Raynor pitched a complete game for the Lady Eagles and allowed 7 runs – 6 earned – on 9 hits and 2 walks, while striking out four.
“Kayleigh pitched wonderful!” said East Bladen Coach Chase Lancaster. “She really stepped up. I could not be more proud of how far we have come. We had a chance to beat Whiteille. Top to bottom we are playing great. Hope we can get a few wins coming up.”
Grainger batted 3-4 with a pair of doubles to lead the Whiteville hitters. Kaitlyn Gordon was 2-4 with a double, and Sholar had the 2-run homer. Jenna Bullard was the Whiteville pitcher.
East Bladen will travel to South Brunswick Thursday for a non-conference game.
About Author
