FAIRMONT – West Bladen pounded out 22 hits and scored 16 runs en route to a 16-6 victory over Fairmont Thursday night in their Three Rivers Conference softball opener.
Sophomore Kylie Durden batted a perfect 4-for-4 with a triple, a run batted in and 2 runs scored to lead the Lady Knights. Sophomore Madison Taylor finished 4-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Junior Jessalyn Vendrick slugged a 2-run home run and was 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored.
Sophomore Rylee Chadwick batted 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and 2 runs scored. Senior Abigail Madden was also 3-for-5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Senior Alyssa Suggs finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Junior Hannah Pait was 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs and a run scored, and freshman Lena Trinidad added a hit and a RBI. Sophomore Mackenzie Singletary had an RBI.
Junior Santana Anderson hammered a 2-run home run to right field to give Fairmont a 2-0 1st inning lead. Alexis Hinson singled and scored on an error in the 2nd inning to pad the lead to 3-0.
West Bladen answered in the 3rd inning. Madden beat out an infield hit, and Chadwick ripped a single to center field. Taylor laced a single to left-center field as Madden and Chadwick scored. Vendrick walloped a home run to center field that plated Taylor and vaulted the Lady Knights in front 4-3.
Adrianah Chavis smashed a triple that drove in Lindsey Floyd, who had walked in the home third. Chavis later scored to put Fairmont ahead 5-4.
Suggs ignited the Lady Knights 9-run, 6th inning explosion with a double. Durden yanked a single to right, and Madden’s infield hit plated Suggs. Chadwick drilled a double to left-center that brought home Durden, and Taylor’s bunt single scored Madden.
After Vendrick walked, Pait smacked a single that plated Chadwick and Taylor. Suggs delivered a single that scored Vendrick and Pait. Durden ripped a triple to right that brought home Suggs, and Trinidad’s bunt single plated Durden for a 13-5 West Bladen lead.
Chadwick led off the Lady Knight 7th with a double, and Taylor followed with a single. Vendrick swatted a single to right that scored Chadwick, and fielder’s choices by Pait and Singletary drove in Taylor and Vendrick to grow the lead to 16-5.
Fairmont scored an unearned run in the 7th on an error and a wild pitch.
Anderson batted 2-for-4 with a homer, a triple, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored to lead Fairmont. Chavis had the RBI triple and a run scored. Floyd started in the circle for the Lady Tornadoes.
Chadwick pitched the 1st inning, was relieved by Durden in the 2nd, then returned to pitch the final 5 innings. Chadwick struck out 9 and allowed 5 runs – 4 earned – on 3 hits and 5 walks. Durden gave up a hit and an unearned run in her one inning in the circle.
Coach Pam Stephens’ Lady Knights improved to 5-1 overall and will host Red Springs Wednesday at 6 p.m.
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