BLADENBORO – Sophomore Kamora Bryant slugged a grand-slam home run that opened up an 8-1 lead and propelled East Columbus to a 13-5 non-conference softball victory over West Bladen Wednesday night.
The Lady Knights, now 0-2, will travel to South Columbus Monday night. East Columbus improved to 3-1 and will visit East Bladen Wednesday night.
Freshman pitcher Gracie Coyle slammed a 2-run home run in the 1st inning after freshman Skylah Collins had singled to put East Columbus on top 2-0.
West answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Junior Marlene Crabtree walked, sophomore Kali Allen was hit by a pitch, and junior Marlie Walters reached base on an error that scored Crabtree.
The Lady Gators bunched 4 hits and a fielder’s choice to push the lead to 4-1 in the 2nd inning then Bryant’s grand slam widened the gap to 9-1 in the 3rd.
West Bladen rallied with 4 runs in the 5th inning. Junior Holland Davis walked, and senior Gracie Faircloth hammered a double to left that scored Davis. Crabtree smacked a single to right that scored Faircloth. Allen smashed a double to right, and Walters walked. Sophomore Natalee Sykes knocked in Crabtree and Allen with a double that sliced the lead to 10-5.
Crabtree batted 2-for-3 with 2 runs batted in and a run scored to lead the Lady Knight hitters. Sykes ripped the 2-run double. Faircloth doubled, scored a run and had an RBI. Allen doubled and scored a run. Davis scored a run.
Faircloth started in the circle and pitched 3 innings allowing 9 runs – 8 earned – on 11 hits while striking out 3. Crabtree pitched 4 innings of relief and gave up 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 1.
Bryant batted 2-for-4 with a home run, 6 RBIs and 2 runs scored to lead the East hitters. Ryleigh Owens was 3-for-3 with an RBI and 3 runs scored. Collins finished 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored, and Makenzi Clemmons batted 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and 2 runs scored.
East Columbus 225 102 1 — 13-17-2
West Bladen 100 040 0 — 5- 5 -2
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