ST PAULS – St. Pauls built a 6-1 lead and held on for an 8-5 Three Rivers Conference softball victory over East Bladen Friday night.
The Lady Eagles jumped in front with a first-inning run as freshman Kayleigh Raynor drew a walk and scored when freshman Alyssa Futrell yanked a single to left field.
Sophomore pitcher Brianna Brewer whacked a triple to right-centerfield to drive in the tying run in the bottom of the first for St. Pauls. Danielle Gray singled in the home fourth and scored a go-ahead run for the Lady Bulldogs.
A triple by Kourtney Sanchious and singles by Jivee Graham and Gray keyed a 4-run St. Pauls fifth-inning that opened up the 6-1 lead.
Senior Faith Johnson smashed a double in the Lady Eagle sixth inning. Junior Anna Kate White followed with a hit, and junior Olivia Hollingsworth knocked in Johnson and White with a single to leftfield that closed the gap to 6-3.
An error, a hit batter and a walk led to a pair of insurance runs for St. Pauls in the home half of the sixth.
Sophomore Abbie Cross drew a lead-off walk in the top of the seventh. Raynor reached base on an error, and Futrell’s infield hit plated Cross. Johnson followed with a single that scored Raynor and trimmed the final margin to 8-5.
Raynor pitched a complete game 7-hitter for the Lady Eagles and allowed 8 runs – 3 earned, 2 hit batters and a walk while striking out five.
Johnson batted 2-3 with a double, a run batted in and a run scored. Futrell finished 2-4 at the plate with 2 RBI’s. White was 2-4 with a run scored. Hollingsworth belted the 2-run single, and junior Erica McKoy clubbed a double. Raynor scored 2 runs, and Cross scored one.
Brewer pitched an 8-hitter and struck out 14 for St. Pauls. Gray batted 2-3, and Brewer and Sanchious slugged triples.
East Bladen will host East Columbus Tuesday.
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