ST. PAULS – East Bladen reeled off ten unanswered runs to build a 14-7 lead then held off a last-ditch St. Pauls rally to claim a 14-12 non-conference softball victory Thursday night.
The Lady Eagles grabbed the early lead with 3 runs in the second inning. Freshman Izzy Smith was hit by a pitch, and freshman Abby Cross reached base on an error. Sophmore Olivia Hollingsworth was hit by a pitch, and walks to sophmore Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson, freshman Johanna Parker and junior Faith Johnson forced in the 3 runs.
Three errors, 2 hits and a walk sparked a 6-run second-inning that vaulted the Lady Bulldogs in front 6-3.
Senior Emily Scott smacked a single to begin the Lady Eagle third inning. Scott stole a base and came around to score on Cross’ fielder’s choice.
A walk and 2 hits produced a St. Pauls run in the home half of the third to push the lead back to 7-4.
Hollingsworth walked to begin the fourth inning, Moore-Peterson reached base on an error and Parker was hit by a pitch. Junior Faith Johnson’s fielder’s choice scored Hollingsworth.
Junior Kaley Smith hammered a triple that brought home Moore-Peterson and Parker. Kaley Smith darted home on a passed ball to edge East Bladen in front 8-7.
Moore-Peterson drew a 2-out walk in the fifth inning, stole second and third base and scored to pad the lead to 9-7.
Kaley Smith walloped triple to start the sixth inning and raced home on Scott’s sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 10-7.
Hollingsworth was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh inning, advanced on a passed ball and dashed home on Moore-Peterson’s single. Parker was hit by a pitch, and Kaley Smith reached base on a fielder’s choice as Moore-Peterson scored.
Scott blasted a triple that drove home Parker and Kaley Smith and widened the gap to 14-7.
St. Pauls rallied in the bottom of the seventh using 3 hits and 2 East errors to score 5 runs and trim the final margin to 14-12.
Scott slammed a triple and batted 2-3 with 3 runs batted in and a run scored to lead the Lady Eagle offense. Winning pitcher Kaley Smith finished 2-5 at the plate with a triple, 3 rbi’s and 3 runs scored.
Moore-Peterson singled, scored 3 runs and drove in two. Hollingsworth scored 3 runs. Parker scored twice and drove in a run. Johnson had 2 rbi’s. Cross and Izzy Smith scored runs, and Cross had an rbi.
The Lady Eagles improved to 4-7 overall and will travel to Rocky Point Trask on April 25th after the Easter break.
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