FAIRMONT – West Bladen fought back from an early 4-0 deficit to pound out 16 hits and claim a mercy-rule 14-4 mercy-rule victory over Fairmont in their Three Rivers Conference softball opener.
Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases in the Lady Tornado 1st-inning, before senior Kaitlynn Hunt belted a grand-slam home run over the right-centerfield fence for a 4-0 lead.
Sophomore Hannah Pait smacked a 1-out single in the Lady Knight 2nd inning, and Mackenzie Singletary raked an infield hit past shortstop. Senior Kasee Singletary beat out an infield hit that scored Pait and trimmed the margin to 4-1.
Senior Alara Cashwell legged out an infield hit in the 3rd inning, and sophomore Jessalyn Vendrick laced a single to center field. Freshman Rylee Chadwick ripped a double off the left field fence that scored Cashwell and Vendrick. Pait reached base on a fielder’s choice, and junior Alyssa Suggs laid down a bunt single that plated Chadwick, Kasee Singletary’s sacrifice bunt scored Pait and pushed West in front 5-4.
Junior Abigail Madden looped a hustle-double over shortstop to start the 4th inning and scored when Vendrick’s pop-up was dropped. Chadwick lined a single to left, and Pait lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Vendrick and pushed the lead to 7-4.
Suggs slapped a single down the right field line to begin the 5th inning. Senior Tatiana Hunt hammered a double off the left field fence that scored Suggs. Madden beat out an infield hit, and Hunt darted home on a wild pitch. Cashwell drilled a double off the left field fence that scored Madden, and an error on Vendrick’s grounder plated Cashwell for an 11-4 lead.
Kasee Singletary legged out an infield hit and stole 2nd and 3rd bases to lead off the 6th inning. Hunt and Madden drew walks, and Cashwell clubbed a sacrifice fly that scored Singletary and an errant throw on the play scored Hunt. Vendrick’s grounder plated Madden for a 14-4 lead.
Chadwick recovered from the rocky 1st inning to strike out 13 batters and finished with a 6-hitter to record the pitching victory.
Hunt batted 2-3 with a double, a run batted in and 2 runs scored. Pait finished 2-3 at the plate with 2 runs scored and an rbi. Kasee Singletary batted 2-3 with 2 rbi’s and a run scored. Madden finished 2-4 with a double and 3 runs scored. Cashwell batted 2-4 with a double, 2 rbi’s and 2 runs scored. Suggs finished 2-4 with an rbi and a run scored. Chadwick batted 2-5 with a double, 2rbi’s and a run scored. Vendrick and Mackenzie Singletary added one hit each. Vendrick had an rbi and scored twice.
Freshman Lindsay Floyd started in the circle for Fairmont and was relieved by senior Effie Oxendine in the 5th inning.
Coach Pam Stephens’ Lady Knights improved to 2-1 overall and will travel to Red Springs Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
West Bladen 014 243 – 14-16-0
Fairmont 400 000 – 4 – 6 -4
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