CLINTON – West Bladen pounded out 19 hits and snapped an 8-8 tie with a 7-run 4th inning explosion enroute to a 19-8 Southeastern Athletic Conference softball victory over Clinton Wednesday night.
Coach Kaitlyn Sykes’ Lady Knights improved to 2-1 in league play and 2-4 overall and will host Midway Friday night. Clinton, now 1-2 in SAC play and 5-8 overall, will travel to Red Springs Friday night.
Junior Marlie Walters lined a single to right field to begin the Lady Knight 4th inning, and junior Kallie Bass walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, and Walters raced home when junior Marlene Crabtree roped a single to center field. Sophomore Natalee Sykes smacked a single to right that brought home Bass.
Sophomore Brenna Hester belted a single to center that scored Crabtree. Junior Holland Davis drilled a double to right that plated Sykes and Hester. Senior Gracie Faircloth reached base on an error that scored Davis. Faircloth advanced on a wild pitch and sophomore Kali Allen’s sacrifice bunt then scooted home on a passed ball to push the West lead to 15-8.
Hester and Davis drew walks in the 5th inning, and senior Megan Pait smacked a single to left that scored Hester. Faircloth ripped a single to the left side, and Allen yanked a single to left that plated Davis. Bass scorched a single to center field that scored Faircloth and Allen and padded the lead to 19-8.
Faircloth batted 4-for-5 with a run batted in and 4 runs scored to lead the Lady Knight hitters. Bass finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, 4 RBIs and a run scored. Sykes batted 3-for-4 with an RBI and 3 runs scored. Hester turned in a 2-for-3 game with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
Walters batted 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and 3 runs scored. Crabtree finished 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Davis doubled, had 2 RBIs and scored twice. Pait and Allen added singles and drove in 1 run each. Allen scored twice.
Faircloth led off the game with a single to center field. Walters pounded a double to right that scored Faircloth. Crabtree pulled a single past shortstop that plated Walters. Sykes laced a single to right, and Hester smoked a single through the middle that scored Crabtree and Sykes for a 4-0 lead.
Clinton rallied in the bottom of the inning for 5 runs on 2 walks, 2 hit batters, singles by Emery Johnson and Da’Niyah Coxum plus an error.
Pait walked, and Faircloth swatted a single to right to start the 2nd inning. Walters walked and Bass slammed a double to right that scored Faircloth and Allen. Walters scored on an error as the Lady Knights went ahead 7-5.
Sykes rapped a single through the middle in the West 3rd inning. Pait walked, and Faircloth drove in Sykes with a single to center field that boosted the lead to 8-5.
Three singles and 3 errors produced a trio of Clinton runs and tied the score 8-8 in the home half of the 3rd.
Crabtree started in the circle for the Lady Knights and pitched 0.1 innings allowing 5 runs – 3 earned – on 2 hits and 2 walks. Faircloth worked 4.2 innings of relief to pick up the win giving up 3 runs – 1 earned – on 4 hits while striking out 2.
Johnson batted 2-for-3 with a run scored for Clinton. Coxum singled, had 2 RBIs and scored a run. Freshman pitcher Alivia Capps singled and scored twice. Gracin Bass singled and scored twice. Freshman Laila Carter drove in 3 runs.
West Bladen 431 74 — 19-19-4
Clinton 503 00 — 8 –6-4
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