DUBLIN – West Bladen worked out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning to preserve a 5-4 Three Rivers Conference softball victory over East Columbus Thursday night.
The Lady Knights took a 5-3 lead into the seventh, but an error, Arianna Daniels’ double and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. West Bladen freshman Shelby Pharr who had started the game returned to the circle in place of reliever Madison Collins.
A sacrifice fly to centerfield plated a Gator run and left runners at second and third base. The next batter yanked a grounder to the left side that ricocheted over to thirdbaseman Carley Dawson who fired a strike to catcher Alara Cashwell to cut down a potential tying run at the plate.
The next batter slapped a grounder to secondbaseman Alyssa Suggs who threw out the batter and ended the game.
“We talked today about how Shelby had been coming in and pitching a strong inning in relief,” said Lady Knight Coach Pam Stephens. “Tonight we decided to start her and then bring Madison in when she got in trouble. Then we brought Shelby back in the seventh to give their hitters a different look. She did what we needed.”
Pharr retired the first four batters she faced, but after two Lady Gator hits in the second inning, Coach Stephens brought in Collins. Collins pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 4 runs – only 2 earned runs- on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out four to pick up the win.
Pharr was credited with a save, working 2.1 scoreless innings and allowing only 2 hits and no walks.
The Lady Knights jumped in front with 4 first-inning runs. Sophmore Kyla Reed reached base on an error, and sophmore Alara Cashwell and junior Carley Dawson were both hit by pitches to load the bases.
Collins raked a single past the shortstop that drove in Reed and when the ball skipped past the leftfielder, sophmore Kaitlyn Willoughby, the courtesy runner for Cashwell, and Carley Dawson raced home. Senior Abby Dawson’s fielder’s choice brought home Collins for a 4-0 lead.
The Lady Knight lead grew to 5-0 in the second inning. Senior Brittney Landreth belted a single to left, and Reed lined a single to right-centerfield that sent Landreth to third base. An error on Cashwell’s fielder’s choice plated Landreth.
East Columbus capitalized on four hits and an error to scored three runs in the third inning and close the gap to 5-3. Freshman Alanna Deal and junior Diamond Porter cracked run-scoring hits in the inning.
Collins worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth as catcher Cashwell ran down a foul pop. In the fifth, sophmore Jordan Benson snared a line drive in the right-centerfield gap to end the inning and strand a Gator runner at third base.
Reed batted 2-3 with a run scored to lead the Lady Knight hitters. Landreth, Collins and Benson connected for one hit each. Cashwell, Collins and Abby Dawson drove in runs, and Landreth, Willoughby, Carley Dawson and Collins scored runs.
“This was a big win for us,” said Coach Stephens. “East Columbus has a good team and a strong program and this may be my first win against them. It feels good.”
Porter batted 3-4 to lead East Columbus. Daniels batted 2-4 with a double, and Izzy Lennon and Rodsalind Harper also finished 2-4 at the plate. Daniels pitched a complete game and struck out 6 for the Lady Gators.
The Lady Knights evened their overall record at 2-2 and improved to 2-1 in league play. West Bladen will travel to South Robeson Friday.
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