ELIZABETHTOWN –Sophomore Kamora Bryant slugged a solo home run in the top of the 7th inning that lifted East Columbus to a 10-9 Waccamaw Conference softball victory over East Bladen Wednesday night.
The Lady Eagles, now 0-3 in Waccamaw play and 1-3 overall, will visit East Columbus Thursday night for a return match. It was the 1st conference game for the Lady Gators who are 4-1 overall.
The final 4 East Columbus runs came on a trio of home runs. Freshman pitcher Gracie Coyle launched a solo home run to left that tied the score 9-9 in the 6th inning. Freshman catcher Sara Coleman drilled a 2-run homer to left in the 5th inning to pull the Lady Gators even 8-8.
Sophomore Niyah Wooten and junior Mollie Tolar walloped triples to lead the East Bladen hitters. Freshman Tatum Allen slammed a double, and sophomore Jenna Brice, freshman Taylor Dowless and junior Martha Simmons connected for 1 hit each.
Wooten scored 3 runs, Tolar scored 2 runs, and Simmons, sophomore Gracey Clark and freshman Nadya Colon scored 1 run each. Junior Gabby Bray drove in 2 runs, and Tolar, Wooten, Brice and Dowless drove in runs.
Brice went the distance in the circle for the Lady Eagles and allowed 10 runs – 8 earned – on 12 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. Coyle pitched a complete game 6-hitter for East Columbus allowing 9 runs – 3 earned – striking out 4 and walking 5.
The visitors bunched 4 hits and an error to score 3 runs in the 1st inning. In the East Bladen 1st, Tolar reached on an error, stole 2nd and scored as Wooten reached on an error. Brice lined a single to right, Clark walked, and Bray reached on an error that scored Wooten and Colon, the courtesy runner for Brice. Allen reached on error, and Dowless’ fielder’s choice scored Clark for a 4-3 Lady Eagle lead.
East Bladen tacked on a run in the 2nd inning. Wooten walked, stole 2nd base and scored as Brice reached base on an error to pad the lead to 5-3.
The Lady Gators rallied with 3 runs in the 4th on 3 hits and 2 walks to take a 6-5 lead. East Bladen answered in the home 4th. Simmons beat out an infield hit and raced home when Tolar hammered a triple to centerfield. Wooten blasted a triple to right that plated Tolar. Brice’s fielder’s choice scored Wooten for an 8-6 Lady Eagle lead.
After Coleman tied the game with a homer, Allen smashed a lead-off double to left in the home 5th, advanced on a passed ball then scored the go-ahead run on an error as Dowless who had walked was stealing 2nd.
Bryant batted 3-for-4 with the home run to lead the East Columbus attack. Coyle was 2-for-4 with a homer and 3 runs batted in. Kaley Mitchell finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, and Coleman had the 2-run homer.
East Columbus 300 321 1 –10-12-7
East Bladen 410 310 0 – 9 – 6-2
About Author
