A 12-run fourth-inning explosion carried South Robeson to a 19-4 non-conference softball victory at West Bladen Saturday.
The Lady Mustangs led 2-1 after 3 innings but bunched 5 hits, 4 walks, 3 hit batsman and a couple of misplayed fly balls to stretch their lead to 14-1. Senior Nakala Brooks capped the rally with a bases-loaded triple.
West Bladen answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Conner Brisson and junior Logan Autry beat out infield hits to start the inning. The Lady Mustangs’ throw to try and get Brisson at third on junior Jenna Dove’s sacrifice bunt was late and loaded the bases.
Junior Kathryn Schultz’ infield grounder brought in Brisson. Junior Kassidy Anderson beat out an infield hit that plated Autry, and junior Sophia Singletary’s fielder’s choice scored Dove and cut the lead to 14-4.
Three walks, 2 hit batters and 2 doubles produced five more Lady Mustang runs in the fifth inning. Aterria Quick slammed a 2-run double, and sophmore Destiny Strickland lined a 3-run double into the leftfield corner to highlight the inning.
Junior Harmony Oxendine pitched all 5 innings to pick up the win allowing 6 hits and striking out five.
Singletary worked the first 2 innings in the circle for West Bladen and gave up 2 runs – one earned – on 3 hits and a walk. Schultz pitched a 1-2-3 third but allowed 5 hits, 4 walks, 3 hit batters in the fourth. She struck out two batters.
Freshman Maegan Brady pitched the fifth inning and gave up 2 hits, 3 walks and a hit batter while striking out one.
Catcher Taylor Bowen and junior Jennifer Lambert both batted 2-3 for the Lady Mustangs, and Brooks and Strickland were both 2-4.
Autry batted 2-3 and scored 2 runs to lead the Lady Knights. Anderson, Singletary, Brisson and Dove connected for one hit each. Anderson and Schultz drove in one run each, and Dove and Brisson scored one run each.
Singles by Brooks and Strickland, a sacrifice fly and an error produced a pair of South Robeson runs in the first.
Autry beat out a 2-out infield hit in the West Bladen second, stole second base and went to third when Dove smacked a single to rightfield. Autry darted home on an error to trim the South Robeson lead to 2-1.
West Bladen, now 1-3, will travel to Union Tuesday at 6 p.m. to begin Four County Conference play.
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