Lauren Pait hammered a 2-run single that keyed a 5-run fifth-inning rally that lifted the Comets to a 10-7 victory over the Slammers in opening night action Thursday in the Bladen Recreation 13-16 Softball League at County Park.
With the score tied 5-5, Katelyn Willoughby walked, Amber Hickman was safe on a bunt, and Natalie Ludlum was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pait’s hit scored Willoughby and Hickman.
Alyssa Suggs’ fielder’s choice scored Ludlum, Amelia Brisson walked and Lauren Taylor knocked in Pait and Brisson with a single.
Shanell McMillian slammed a double to start the Slammer fifth, stole third base and raced home on a passed ball. Tara Rogers smacked a single, stole 2 bases and scored to trim the final margin to 10-7.
Winning pitcher Shelby Pharr struck out 7 in her 3 innings of relief. Pharr allowed 3 runs on 3 hits, a walk and 2 hit batters. Brittany Landreth pitched the first 2 innings and allowed 4 runs on 2 hits and 5 walks while striking out three.
Jordan Kinlaw pitched all 5 innings for the Slammers striking out 8 and walking five.
The Comets scored 2 runs in the first. Landreth walked, and Jordan Benson beat out a bunt single. Landreth scored on an error, and Benson darted home on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead.
The Slammers answered with 4 runs in the home first. Johanna Parker drew a lead-off walk, stole 2 bases and scooted home as Abbie Cross reached base on a passed third strike.
Nesiah Davis-McKoy walked, and Lauren Guy belted a single that scored Cross and Davis-McKoy. Guy later scored the fourth run of the inning.
Suggs walked, stole 2 bases and scampered home on Brisson’s fielder’s choice to pull the Comets to within 4-3 in the third.
Gray Guy was hit by a pitch, stole second and eventually scored on an error to pad the Slammer lead to 5-3 in the fourth.
Emma Smith lined a single to right-centerfield in the Comet fourth inning and sprinted home when Landreth walloped a double. Benson’s bunt single plated Landreth with the tying run.
Benson batted 2-2 to lead the Comet hitters. Landreth slugged the double, and Pait, Willoughby, Taylor, Hickman and Smith added one hit each.
McMillian belted a double to lead the Slammer hitters, and Rogers, Lauren Guy, Davis-McKoy and Joi Kemp connected for one hit each.
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