CLINTON – Clinton turned 5 East Bladen errors into 6 unearned runs en route to a key 10-5 Southeastern Athletic Conference softball victory over the Lady Eagles Wednesday night.
Junior Hanna Locklear led off the Clinton 2nd inning with a single, and after a hit batter and an error, Lady Dark Horse senior Khaliah Chestnutt slugged a 3-run inside-the-park home run that vaulted Clinton ahead 4-0.
East Bladen rallied for a pair of 2-out runs in the 3rd inning. Junior Karli Priest legged out an infield hit, and junior Laura Davisson reached base on an error. Junior Emma Turbeville knocked in both runners with a single to center field that sliced the margin to 4-2.
Junior Avery Evans singled in the Clinton half of the 3rd and scored on senior pitcher Lily Wilson’s single. Three hits and 3 errors led to 4 unearned Lady Dark Horse runs in the 5th inning as the lead grew to 9-2.
Senior Mariah Smith and freshman Mollie Tolar drew walks in the East Bladen 6th inning. Freshman Gabriella Bray smashed a single to center field that scored Mary Frances Sutton, the pinch-runner for Smith.
Davisson and Turbeville reached base on walks in the Lady Eagle 7th inning. After Smith walked, junior Maegan Burney and Tolar belted singles that drove in Davisson and Turbeville.
Priest, Turbeville and Burney all batted 2-for-4 to lead the East Bladen hitters. Tolar, Bray and freshman Martha Simmons contributed 1 hit each. Turbeville had 2 runs batted in, and Burney, Tolar and Bray had 1 RBI each. Davisson scored 2 runs, and Priest, Turbeville and Sutton scored 1 run each.
Davisson started in the circle and allowed 5 runs – 4 earned – on 4 hits and a walk. Priest pitched 3.2 innings of relief and gave up 5 unearned runs on 5 hits and a walk.
Evans and Locklear both batted 2-for-4 and scored 2 runs each for Clinton.The Lady Eagles, now 7-4 in SAC-7 play and 9-8 overall will host Clinton Thursday at 6 p.m.
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