ELIZABETHTOWN – A 9-run 5th-inning explosion propelled East Bladen to their 1st victory of the season 10-2 over West Brunswick Thursday night in non-conference softball action.
The Lady Trojans led 2-1 when freshman Cabria Baldwin blasted a triple to center field to start the East rally. Sophomore Gabriella Bray drilled a single to right-center field that scored Baldwin with the tying run. Senior Karli Priest ripped a single to left, and Bray and Priest stole bases.
Sophomore Martha Simmons belted a single to right-center field that scored Bray and Priest and vaulted the Lady Eagles ahead 4-2. Freshman Niyah Wooten reached base on an error, and freshman Jenna Brice reached on a bunt that scored Simmons. Sophomore Mollie Tolar beat out a bunt single that scored Wooten and grew the lead to 6-2.
Baldwin beat out an infield hit that plated Brice, and Bray reached base on an error that scored Tolar. Priest pounded a double to left-center field that scored Baldwin and Bray and stretched the lead to 10-2.
Brice pitched a complete-game 5-hitter and allowed 2 runs – 1 earned – while striking out 8 and walking one. Wooten snagged 4 fly balls in right field including a pair of shoestring catches in the 6th and 7th innings that helped keep the visitors from scoring.
The Lady Trojans turned a walk, a hit and 2 errors into a pair of 2nd inning runs. East Bladen answered with a run in the 4th inning. Senior Laura Davisson legged out an infield hit and scored when Wooten pounded a single to left.
Priest batted 3-for-4 with a double, 2 runs batted in and a run scored to lead the East hitters. Baldwin finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple, 2 runs scored and an RBI. Tolar was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Simmons delivered the 2-run single and scored a run.
Davisson, Wooten, and Bray added 1 hit each. Wooten, Bray and Brice had 1 RBI each. Bray scored 2 runs, and Wooten, Davisson and Brice scored 1 run each.
Senior Kasey Pigott batted 2-for-3 to lead the Lady Trojan hitters. Junior Chloe Ward singled and scored a run. Freshman Alivia West and junior Kaylee Sellers collected 1 hit each, and senior Makaylee Sanders scored a run.
Freshman Olvia Brown started and pitched 4.1 innings for West Brunswick allowing 8 runs – 7 earned – on 9 hits while striking out four. Senior Ava Caison worked the final 1.1 innings and gave up 2 runs – 1 earned – on 2 hits while striking out two.
Coach Chris Davisson’s Lady Eagles improved to 1-3 and are slated to travel to West Brunswick Friday night for a return match if the weather co-operates.
West Brunswick 020 000 0 — 2- 5-2
East Bladen 000 190 x — 10-11-2
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