ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophmore Kayleigh Raynor pitched a 2-hit shutout and struck out eight batters to lead East Bladen to a 10-0 Three Rivers Conference softball victory over South Robeson Tuesday night.
The Lady Eagles took charge with a 5-run first inning. Raynor raked a single to leftfield and stole her way around the bases including a steal of home. Freshman Mariah Smith and sophmore Alyssa Futrell drew walks and both scored when senior Anna Kate White walloped a triple to rightfield.
White dashed home on junior Abbie Cross’ fielder’s choice. Junior Lorna Mendell blasted a triple to rightfield and scored on senior Olivia Hollingsworth’s fielder’s choice.
Junior Johanna Parker led off the second inning with a bunt single, and Raynor was hit by a pitch. Smith hammered a triple to rightfield that scored Parker and Raynor. Futrell’s fielder’s choice plated Smith and padded the lead to 8-0.
Mendell started the third inning with a single, stole third base and raced home on sophmore Carlie West’s fielder’s choice. Parker belted a single and sprinted home when Raynor slammed a double to centerfield that stretched the lead to 10-0.
Raynor batted 2-2 with a double, a run batted in and 2 runs scored. Mendell finished 2-2 at the plate with a triple and 2 runs scored. Parker batted 2-2 with 2 runs scored. White and Smith tripled home 2 runs each. Smith scored twice, and White and Futrell scored one run each. Futrell, Cross, West and Hollingsworth drove in one run each.
“We played really well tonight,” said East Bladen Coach Chase Lancaster. “Playing those strong teams in the Easter Tournament really helped us.”
The Lady Eagles improved to 7-8 in the TRC and 7-14 overall and will host Whiteville Thursday at 6 p.m.
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