CERRO GORDO – Junior Taylor Lewis’ 2-run triple highlighted a 9-run 4th-inning that propelled West Bladen to a 19-5 Three Rivers Conference softball victory over West Columbus Tuesday night.
With the Lady Knights up 6-3, sophomore Kylie Durden led off the 4th with a single, stole 2 bases and darted home when senior Abigail Madden slapped a single to centerfield. Madden stole a base and dashed home on a passed ball.
Sophomore Rylee Chadwick was hit by a pitch and raced home as sophomore Madison Taylor reached base on an error. Senior Shelby Pharr was hit by a pitch, and senior Alyssa Suggs belted a single to centerfield that scored Taylor. Lewis then walloped a triple that brought home Pharr and Suggs.
Durden yanked a single to right-centerfield that scored Lewis. Madden ripped a double to centerfield that plated Durden. Madden stole a base then scampered home on a passed ball to grow the Lady Knight lead to 15-3.
West Bladen tacked on 4 more runs in the 5th inning. Sophomore Mackenzie Singletary swatted a single to centerfield, and freshman Lena Trinidad smacked a single to right-centerfield. Suggs’ fielder’s choice drove in Singletary. Lewis rapped a single to centerfield, and Durden drilled a triple to right-centerfield that scored Suggs and Lewis. Durden scooted home on a passed ball.
Madden batted 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, 3 runs scored and 2 runs batted in. Durden finished 2-for-2 at the plate with a triple, 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Lewis turned in a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a triple, 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Taylor batted 3-for-5 with a double, 3 RBIs and a run scored. Chadwick had a hit, an RBI and scored twice.
Junior Jessalynn Vendrick, Singletary, Trinidad and Suggs connected for one hit each. Suggs drove in 2 runs, and senior Madison Walters and Guyton drove in one run each. Singletary and Suggs scored 2 runs each, and Vendrick, Guyton and Pharr scored one run each.
The Lady Knights grabbed a 3-0 1st inning lead. Guyton reached base on an error, and Madden dotted the leftfield line with a double. Chadwick knocked in Guyton with a single to left, and Taylor slugged a double to left that plated Madden and Chadwick.
Lewis cracked a single to centerfield, stole 2 bases and sprinted home on Guyton’s ground ball to pad the West Bladen lead to 4-0 in the 2nd inning.
Vendrick pounded a single to left in the 3rd inning, and Singletary walked. Walters laid down a bunt that scored Vendrick and an error on the play scored Singletary for a 6-1 Lady Knight lead.
Taylor started and pitched 3-plus innings for the Lady Knights and allowed 5 runs -0 earned – on 4 hits while striking out three. Chadwick pitched 2 innings of scoreless, hitless relief and walked one.
Rheya Collins started in the circle for West Columbus. Collins, Honesti McKenzie, Kaitlyn Clemmons, and Kierston Nance delivered one hit each for West Columbus.
Coach Pam Stephens’ Lady Knights improved to 4-1 in league play and 8-3 overall. West Bladen will host St. Pauls Thursday at 6 p.m.
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