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East Bladen jumped in front with 4 runs in the first inning and maintained that margin to post a 5-1 Four County Conference softball victory over rival West Bladen at East Tuesday night.
“I’m tickled to death,” said East Bladen Coach Patty Evers. “We made the plays when we had to, and we hit Nicole (Wyatt) well. She is one of the better pitchers in this area.”
The win keeps East Bladen unbeaten in league play at 5-0 and sends them into the Easter Break with a 9-1 record.
Junior Lacey Suggs drew a walk and stole second base to begin the pivotal first inning. Suggs moved up on a passed ball and darted home when shortstop Abby Ward laced a single to centerfield.
Senior catcher Lexi Dawson ripped a single to centerfield that sent Ward to third base. After Dawson swiped second base, senior Abbey Norris’ fielder’s choice plated Ward.
One out later Miller Heustess knocked in Dawson with a single to centerfield. A throwing error on Emily Scott’s ground ball plated Norris with the fourth run of the inning.
Senior Anna Brewer started the Lady Eagle third inning with a double to leftfield. Brewer advanced on an infield out and raced home on Scott’s ground ball that grew the lead to 5-0.
It was a game of missed opportunities for the Lady Knights who left 8 runners on base in the game, but managed to push across a run in the sixth inning. Senior Morgan Sweeney smacked a single to rightfield and advanced on Wyatt’s infield hit to begin the sixth.
Sophmore Laikyn Pait raked a single through the middle that drove in Sweeney with the Lady Knight run. The next three batters went down in order.
Heustess went the distance in the circle for the Lady Eagles, scattering 6 hits and striking out 3 with no walks.
Ward batted 2-3, drove in a run and scored one to lead the East hitters. Brewer doubled and scored a run. Dawson, Heustess and Suggs collected one hit for the winners.
Suggs stole 2 bases and scored a run. Dawson stole a base and scored a run. Heustess drove in a run, Norris scored a run and drove in a run, and Scott drove in a run.
“That looked like real softball out there tonight,” said Coach Evers. “I am truly proud of these girls. They did a great job.”
Wyatt struck out 3 for the Lady Knights. Sweeney slammed a double and batted 3-4 with a run scored for the Lady Knights.
Sophmore Kassidy Anderson contributed 2 hits for West Bladen, and Wyatt and Pait connected for one hit each. Pait drove in the Lady Knight run.
The Lady Knights are now 2-2 in conference play and 4-3 overall. West Bladen will play Saturday night at 7 p.m. against St. Pauls in the Robeson County Slugfest which has been moved to St. Pauls.
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