LAKE WACCAMAW – Senior Janyia Cummings singled and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 7th inning to lift East Columbus to a 4-3 non-conference season-opening softball victory over West Bladen Monday night.
Sophomore Ash Powell’s bunt plated Cummings with the game-winner. Cummings batted 3-4 with a run-batted-in and a run scored to lead the Lady Gator hitters.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Lady Knight pitcher Kylie Durden led off the game with a single, advanced on an error, then stole 3rd base and raced home when senior Jessalynn Vendrick belted a single to right field.
Junior Karli Godwin cracked a 1-out single in the East Columbus 3rd inning and scored the tying run on pitcher Ava Jacobs’ single. Cummings followed with a single that scored Jacobs and vaulted the Lady Gators in front 2-1.
Vendrick walloped a solo home run over the left-center field fence to tie the game 2-2 in the 4th inning. The Lady Gators used small ball – a walk and 2 bunts – to retake the lead 3-2 in the home fourth.
Junior Kaitlynn Brisson yanked a single to left in the West Bladen 5th inning, advanced on Emmie Ward’s sacrifice bunt, and dashed home with the tying run when Durden ripped a double to center field.
The Lady Knights loaded the bases in the 6th inning on singles by junior Mackenzie Singletary and Brisson and a walk to freshman Marly Crabtree but couldn’t score. West Bladen left 2 more runners on base in the 7th and stranded 8 runners in the game.
Durden batted a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Vendrick finished 3-for-4 at the plate with the home run, 2 RBIs and a run scored. Brisson batted 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Singletary added a single.
In the circle Durden struck out 9 batters and allowed 8 hits and 5 walks. Jacobs scattered 9 hits, walked 4 and struck out 3 to pick up the win for the Lady Gators.
West Bladen will host the Lady Gators in a return match Thursday at 6 p.m.
West Bladen 100 110 0 – 3-9-2
East Columbus 002 100 1 – 4-8-2
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