ELIZABETHTOWN – Fairmont rallied with 4 runs in the 7th inning to overcome a 5-3 East Bladen lead and post a 7-6 Southeastern Athletic Conference softball victory Friday night.
The Lady Tornadoes capitalized on singles by junior Lakayla Chavis and senior Santana Anderson, a pair of infield hits and 2 errors to score the 4 runs and go up 7-5.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Junior Karli Priest drew a lead-off walk in the Lady Eagle 7th, advanced on a fielder’s choice and after junior Emma Turbeville walked, raced home when senior Mariah Smith ripped a single to left-center field to close the gap to 7-6. However, Anderson, the Fairmont pitcher, retired the next 2 batters to strand the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.
Anderson pitched a complete game 5-hitter and struck out 7 batters but was plagued by 7 walks. The Lady Eagles left 7 runners on base. At the plate Anderson slugged a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning and finished 2-for-3 with 3 runs batted in. Junior Gabrielle Jones batted 2-for-3 and scored twice.
Junior Laura Davisson turned in a complete-game 8-hitter for East Bladen, striking out 5 and walking three. Only one of the Fairmont runs was earned.
Priest walked in the 1st inning, advanced on a passed ball and dashed home on a wild pitch to stake the Lady Eagles to an early lead.
After Anderson’s home run, East Bladen answered in the home half of the third. Priest laced a single to right-center field, and Davisson reached base on an error. Turbeville walked, but Priest was retired at the plate. Smith knocked in Davisson and Turbeville with a single that vaulted the Lady Eagles in front 3-2.
Jones poked a single to left in the Fairmont 5th inning, stole 2nd and scored on an error to tie the game 3-3.
Turbeville drew a 2-out walk in the home 5th, advanced as Smith reached base on an error and dashed home on a wild pitch to edge East back in front 4-3.
Sophomore Dyiamon Robinson walked in the Lady Eagle 6th inning. Freshman Martha Simmons yanked a single to left, and Robinson scooted home when the hit was misplayed.
Smith batted 2-for-4 and drove in 3 runs to lead the East Bladen hitters. Priest singled, walked twice and scored 2 runs. Simmons and freshman Mollie Tolar collected 1 hit each for the Lady Eagles. Turbeville walked 4 times and scored twice. Davisson and Robinson drew walks and scored 1 run each.
East Bladen, now 2-2 in SAC-7 play and 4-6 overall, will host Red Springs Tuesday night.
Fairmont 002 010 4- 7-8-3
East Bladen 102 011 1- 6-5-5
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