ROWLAND – East Bladen exploded for 8 runs in the first inning and rolled to a 17-0 Three Rivers Conference softball victory over South Robeson Friday night.
Freshman Kayleigh Raynor led off the game with a bunt single, and junior Erica McKoy walked, before senior Kaley Smith knocked in both runners with a triple to left-centerfield. Freshman Alyssa Futrell reached base on an error as Smith scored.
An error on senior Faith Johnson’s bunt plated Futrell. Junior Anna Kate White belted a single that scored Johnson, and junior Olivia Hollingsworth hammered a double that scored White.
Sophmore Johanna Parker’s drive to left was misplayed allowing Hollingsworth to score, and Raynor capped the inning with single that drove in Parker.
Futrell started the East Bladen second inning with a single to centerfield. After a fielder’s choice, White cracked a single that plated Futrell and pushed the lead to 9-0.
Raynor raked a single through the left side in the third inning and dashed home as Smith reached base on an error that grew the lead to 10-0.
Johnson slammed a double to begin the Lady Eagle fourth inning and scored on an error as Parker reached base on an error. Sophmore Abbie Cross drew a walk, and Raynor walloped a triple to left-centerfield that scored Parker and Cross.
McKoy drilled a double to left-centerfield that drove in Raynor and padded the lead to 14-0.
Futrell and Johnson swatted singles to start the East Bladen fifth. Senior Shardajah Brown drove in Futrell and Johnson with a single. Carlie West walked, and sophmore Lorna Mendell smashed a double that scored Brown and West.
Raynor batted 4-5 with a triple, 3 runs batted in and 3 runs scored. White turned in a perfect 2-2 night at the plate with 2 rbi’s and a run scored. Johnson batted 2-3 with 3 runs scored. Futrell finished 2-4 at the plate with an rbi.
Smith slugged the 2-run triple and scored a run. Mendell clubbed the 2-run double. Hollingsworth and McKoy delivered run-scoring doubles. Brown connected for the 2-run single, Parker scored 2 runs, and West and Cross scored a run each.
Raynor started in the circle for the Lady Eagles and pitched the first and fifth innings allowing only a 2-out single in the fifth inning to Yasmine Evans for the only South Robeson hit. Smith pitched the middle 3 innings and struck out four batters while walking two.
Coach Chase Lancaster’s Lady Eagles improved to 3-4 in league play and 4-4 overall. East Bladen will travel to rival West Bladen Monday night.
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