BLADENBORO – A 6-run 5th inning explosion snapped a 2-2 tie and propelled East Bladen to a 9-2 Southeastern Athletic Conference softball victory over West Bladen Friday night.
Freshman Martha Simmons reached base on an error, and junior Karli Priest ripped a double down the left field line to start the deciding rally. Junior Laura Davisson knocked in Simmons and Priest with a single to right field. Junior Emma Turbeville laced a single to center, and senior Mariah Smith spanked a single to right that scored Davisson.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Freshman Mollie Tolar dropped a bunt single on top of the foul line, and Maegan Burney’s fielder’s choice plated Turbeville. Sophomore Dyiamon Robinson launched a sacrifice fly to left that scored Tolar. Junior AnnaGrey Heustess smashed a double to right-center field that plated Burney for an 8-2 Lady Eagle lead.
East Bladen added an insurance run in the 7th inning as Burney yanked a double down the left field line and later scored on a wild pitch.
Priest pitched a complete game 8-hitter with 2 strike-outs and a walk for East. Junior Kylie Durden started in the circle for West and worked 3.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk, while striking out one.
Junior Rylee Chadwick relieved Durden in the 4th inning and allowed 4 runs – 3 earned – on 4 hits while striking out 2 in 1-plus innings. Junior Madison Taylor worked 2.2 innings in the circle and gave up 3 runs – 2 earned – on 3 hits.
Smith batted 3-for-4 with a run batted in to lead the East hitters. Turbeville finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Priest batted 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Heustess turned in a 2-for-4 game with a double and an RBI. Davisson slugged the 2-run double and scored a run. Burney doubled, scored twice and had an RBI. Simmons added a single. Robinson had an RBI, and freshman Gabriella Bray scored a run.
Durden batted 3-for-4 to lead the Lady Knight hitters. Sophomore Marlie Walters finished with a 2-for-3 game and scored a run. Singletary batted 2-for-4 with a 2-run double. Vendrick and sophomore Gracie Faircloth smacked a single each.
Smith started the Lady Eagle 3rd inning with an infield hit, advanced on 2 wild pitches and dashed home when Priest looped a single to center field. Turbeville pounded a double to left-center field that scored Priest and put East up 2-0.
Walters lined a single to center field to begin the West Bladen 3rd inning, and Faircloth swatted a single to right. Singletary hammered a double to the left-center field fence that scored Walters and Faircloth with the tying runs.
Coach Chris Davisson’s Lady Eagles evened their league record at 1-1 and raised their overall mark to 3-2. East Bladen will host Whiteville Tuesday at 6 p.m. West Bladen, now 1-1 in the SAC-7 and 2-6 overall, will host Fairmont Tuesday at 6 p.m.
East Bladen 002 060 1 – 9-13-0
West Bladen 002 000 0 – 2 – 8-2
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