LAKE WACCAMAW –East Columbus pounded out 13 hits and scored in all 5 innings as the Lady Gators defeated West Bladen 14-4 Wednesday night in non-conference softball action.
West Bladen scored 1st as senior Rylee Chadwick drew a lead-off walk, stole 2nd base and raced home when junior Gracie Faircloth smashed a double to center field. Three walks and hits by senior Ava Jacobs and junior Chynna Patrick resulted in 3 East runs in the bottom of the inning.
A trio of West errors and hits by freshman Jenna King and Jacobs plated 3 more runs in the 2nd inning and padded the East lead to 6-1. Another error and hits by junior Kaley Mitchell and senior Karli Godwin produced 2 runs and pushed the East lead to 8-1.
Sophomore Marlene Crabtree reached base on an error in the Lady Knight 4th inning, and freshman Natalee Sykes walked. Freshman Brenna Hester’s sacrifice advanced the runners, and senior Kylie Durden knocked in both Crabtree and Sykes with a single to center field that trimmed the margin to 8-3.
An error and doubles by Patrick and junior Gabby Andrews pushed the lead to 10-3. Chadwick lined a single to right-center field, stole a base and sprinted home when Faircloth slammed a double to left-center field to whittle the lead to 10-4.
East closed the game out in the home 5th with 4 runs on 4 hits a walk and an error. Patrick’s double ended the game on the 10-run rule.
Faircloth drove in 2 runs with her 2 doubles to lead the West hitters. Chadwick singled, walked twice and scored twice. Durden cracked the 2-run single. Hester added a single, and Crabtree and Sykes scored runs.
Chadwick struck out 3 batters and walked 3 in her 4.2 innings in the circle and allowed 14 runs – 7 earned. Jacobs pitched all 5 innings for East and allowed 4 runs – 2 earned – on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out two.
Patrick batted 4-for-4 with 2 doubles, 2 runs batted in and 2 runs scored to lead the East hitters. Godwin, the Oklahoma State signee, finished 2-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Mitchell was 2-for-2 and scored a run. King batted 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored. Jacobs finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Andrews had the 2-run double.
The Lady Knights, now 1-3, are slated to visit West Columbus Friday at 6 p.m.
West Bladen 100 21 — 4- 5- 6
East Columbus 332 24 — 14-13-1
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