LAKE WACCAMAW – East Bladen bunched 5 hits to score 3 runs during a decisive 7th inning rally that propelled the Lady Eagles to an important 10-7 Three Rivers Conference softball victory over East Columbus Thursday night.
With the score tied 7-7 senior Kayleigh Raynor ignited the winning rally with a double. One out later sophomore Emma Turbeville ripped a single to left-centerfield that scored Raynor with the go-ahead run. Sophomore Karli Priest laced a single to left-center, and junior Mariah Smith knocked in Turbeville and Priest to pad the lead to 10-7.
Sophomore Laura Davisson batted 3-for-5 with a double a run scored and a run batted in for East Bladen. Priest finished 3-for-5 at the plate and scored 3 runs, and Smith turned in a 3-for-5 game with 2 RBIs. Raynor batted 2-for-4 with a double and 2 runs scored.
Turbeville finished 2-5 at the plate with an RBI and 3 runs scored. Sophomore AnnaGray Heustess had one hit, a run scored and an RBI. Sophomore Maegan Burney had a hit and an RBI. Seniors Alyssa Futrell and Carlie West connected for one hit each.
Raynor led off the game with a single but was retired on Davisson’s fielder’s choice. Turbeville reached base on an error, and Priest smacked a single to centerfield. Smith followed with a single, and Futrell reached on an error. Davisson, Turbeville and Priest scored to stake the Lady Eagles to a 3-0 lead.
Senior Alexis Jacobs started the Lady Gator 1st with a double, and Lazaydia Flowers and A. Powell followed with singles that plated Jacobs and Flowers and trimmed the Lady Eagle lead to 3-2.
Raynor drew a 2-out walk in the East Bladen 2nd inning and raced home when Davisson smashed a double to right-centerfield that padded the lead to 4-2.
Priest yanked a single to left that began the Lady Eagle 3rd inning. Heustess knocked in Priest with a single to right-centerfield. West bashed a single to left-centerfield, and Burney swatted a single to right-centerfield that scored Heustess and stretched the lead to 6-2.
Sophomore Bailey Padgett’s 3-run homer capped a 4-run East Columbus 3rd inning that tied the game 6-6. Jacobs, Powell and Hannah Andrews belted singles and scored runs in the inning.
Davisson started the East Bladen 4th inning with a single but was retired on Turbeville’s fielder’s choice. Smith cracked a single and Futrell walked as Turbeville scored to edge the Lady Eagles in front 7-6.
Sanauwa Campbell drove in Flowers with a single in the bottom of the 4th to tie the game again 7-7.
Raynor pitched all 7 innings for the Lady Eagles and allowed 7 runs – 5 earned – on 11 hits while striking out five to pick up the win.
Powell batted 3-for-4 to lead the Lady Gator hitters. Flowers finished 2-for-3 at the plate, and Jacobs and Andrews were both 2-for-4. Padgett slugged the 3-run homer.
It was the 6th straight win for Coach Chris Davisson’s Lady Eagles who improved to 6-1 in the TRC and 7-5 overall and only need a win in their final game at West Bladen next Thursday to at least tie for a playoff spot.
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