BEAULAVILLE –Senior Addison Tuck’s 2-run double tacked on a pair of insurance runs late as East Duplin held off East Bladen 7-3 Wednesday night in non-conference softball action.
The Lady Eagles have completed the regular season with an 8-10 record and will now wait for the state playoff pairings to be released on May 6th. East Bladen is currently ranked No. 22 in the Class 1A East RPI ratings that would mean a road game at the No. 11 seed that is currently Warren County. East Duplin improved to 12-9 on the season.
Carley Jenkins and Tuck sandwiched a pair of singles around a walk to Karsyn Parker in the East Duplin 2nd inning. Emory Raynor lined a single to center field, and 2 errors on the play allowed Jenkins, Parker, Tuck and Raynor to score for a 4-0 Lady Panther lead.
Junior Mollie Tolar belted a single to right field in the Lady Eagle 3rd inning. Sophomore Jenna Brice yanked a single to 3rd base, and Tolar scored on an error to trim the margin to 4-1.
The Lady Panthers answered with a run in the home 3rd. Neyland Tate pulled a single to left, advanced on an error and raced home on Parker’s single to push the lead to 5-1.
Tolar walked to begin the Lady Eagle 5th inning. Sophomore Niyah Wooten drilled a single to right field, and Brice smoked a single off the 2nd baseman that scored Tolar and Wooten and sliced the lead to 5-3.
Jenkins singled, and Parker reached base on a fielder’s choice in the East Duplin 6th inning. Tuck knocked them both in with her double to center field.
Brice batted 2-for-4 with 2 runs batted in to lead the Lady Eagle hitters. Sophomores Cabria Baldwin and Gracie Clark, freshman Jamiee Perkins, Wooten and Tolar connected for 1 hit each. Brice had 2 RBIs. Tolar scored 2 runs, and Wooten scored a run.
Brice pitched 6 innings and allowed 7 runs – 4 earned – on 7 hits while striking out 3.
Tuck batted 2-for-3 with a double, 2 RBIs and a run scored to lead East Duplin. Jenkins was also 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored. Parker singled, had an RBI and scored twice. Raynor singled, had 2 RBIs and scored a run.
Tuck started in the circle and pitched 2.2 innings for the Lady Panthers allowing an unearned run on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 3. Junior Morgan Brown pitched 4.1 innings of relief and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk while striking out 5.
East Bladen 001 020 0 — 3-7-2
East Duplin 041 002 x — 7-7-3
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