RED SPRINGS – Four consecutive East Bladen hits keyed a 5-run sixth-inning rally that carried the Lady Eagles to an 8-6 victory over Red Springs in their Three Rivers Conference softball opener.
East Bladen led 3-2 when senior Anna Kate White was hit by a pitch to start the pivotal sixth inning. Junior Abbie Cross, sophmore Kayleigh Raynor, senior Erica McKoy and senior Olivia Hollingsworth smacked consecutive singles and all four of them plus White scored runs as the lead grew to 8-2.
Red Springs capitalized on a pair of errors, a walk and Kailee Sampson’s double to plate 4 runs in the home sixth, but a Lady Eagle double play helped end the threat.
Raynor recorded two of her eight strike-outs in a 1-2-3 seventh inning to finish off the complete game win. She also batted 2-4 with a double.
Hollingworth slammed a double and a single, and McKoy cracked 2 singles. White, Cross, freshman Mariah Smith and sophmore Jordan Kinlaw added one hit each to the East Bladen attack.
“It was super cold but we played pretty good,” said Lady Eagle Coach Chase Lancaster. “Four basketball players started and they haven’t been able to get on the field at all, so were a little rusty. Overall happy with how we played and always good to start out with a win.”
McKoy drew a third inning walk and raced home on Hollingsworth’s double to tie the game 1-1.
Junior Lorna Mendell walked, and Smith laced a single to centerfield to begin the Lady Eagle fourth. White was hit by a pitch, and Cross walked to force home Mendell and tie the game again 2-2. A walk to McKoy plated Smith with the go-ahead run.
Catcher Tristen Locklear tripled to lead the Red Springs hitters. Sampson cracked the double, and pitcher Solara Blue singled.
The Lady Eagles will travel to West Columbus Thursday night.
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