ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophomore Kayleigh Raynor pitched a 4-hitter to lead East Bladen to an 8-2 Three Rivers Conference softball victory over West Columbus Wednesday night.
“We played well tonight,” said Lady Eagle Coach Chase Lancaster. “I am pleased. We owed them one.” West Columbus had rallied in their last at-bat to edge East Bladen in an early season game.
Leah Floyd reached base on an error and scored on Jada Faison’s single to give West Columbus an early 1-0 lead.
The Lady Eagles answered in the home first. Raynor reached base on an error, and freshman Mariah Smith cracked a single that scored Raynor. Sophmore Alyssa Futrell was hit by a pitch, and both runners advanced on a infield out. Senior Anna Kate White knocked in Smith and Futrell with a single to rightfield to put East ahead 3-1.
Junior Johanna Parker reached base on an error in the Lady Eagle second, and Raynor drove her in with a single. Futrell ripped a single to left that scored Raynor and grew the lead to 5-1.
Raynor walloped a double to left in the East Bladen fourth and dashed home when Smith yanked a single to left to pad the lead to 6-1.
A passed third strike and an error produced a West Columbus run in the fifth, before East Bladen tacked on 2 runs in the sixth. Junior Abbie Cross hammered a triple to left, and Raynor drilled a single to left that scored Cross. Smith and Futrell delivered singles, and senior Olivia Hollingsworth drove in Raynor with a single to centerfield.
Raynor batted 3-4 with a double, 2 runs batted in and 4 runs scored to lead the Lady Eagle hitters. Smith finished 3-4 at the plate with 2 rbi’s and a run scored. Futrell batted 2-3 with a double, an rbi and a run scored. Cross tripled and scored a run. White smacked the 2-run single, and Hollingsworth had the rbi single. Parker scored a run.
Raynor walked one and struck out four to pick up the pitching victory. Neither West Columbus run was earned.
Kloey Nance batted 2-3 and scored a run to lead the Lady Vikings.
East Bladen improved to 5-7 in league play and 5-9 overall. The Lady Eagles will host Fairmont Friday night.
West Columbus 100 010 0 – 2- 4- 2
East Bladen 320 102 x – 8-11-2
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