ELIZABETHTOWN – West Bladen rallied for 4 runs in the 7th inning to edge East Bladen 6-5 Tuesday in the Southeastern Athletic Conference softball opener for both teams.
The Lady Eagles carried a 4-2 lead into the final inning, but junior Kylie Durden’s drive to left-centerfield to begin the inning resulted in a Lady Knight at 2nd base. Junior Madison Taylor knocked in Durden with a single to left, and senior Jessalynn Vendrick reached base on a passed 3rd strike.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Junior Kaitlynn Brisson laced a double to rightfield that scored Taylor and Vendrick and vaulted West in front. Sophomore Emmee Ward beat out a bunt single, and senior Briley Stanley’s squeeze bunt brought home Brisson and padded the Lady Knight lead to 6-4.
Junior Laura Davisson led off the home 7th with a single to centerfield, then stole 2nd base and advanced on an infield out. Senior Mariah Smith swatted a single to rightfield that scored Davisson, but Smith was thrown out stealing, and Durden retired the next batter to end the game.
Durden picked up the pitching victory with 6.2 innings of relief, allowing 3 runs – 2 earned – on 9 hits and a walk while striking out four. Taylor started in the circle and allowed 2 runs – 1 earned – on 2 hits. Davisson allowed 6 runs – 1 earned – on 10 hits while striking out 9 for East.
Durden batted 3-for-4 with a double and 2 runs scored. Taylor was also 3-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored. Brisson finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, 2 RBI’s and 2 runs scored. Junior Mackenzie Singletary, freshman Marlene Crabtree and Ward added 1 hit each. Vendrick and Briley Stanley had RBI’s and Vendrick scored a run.
Junior Karli Priest batted 3-for-4 and scored a run to lead the East hitters. Davisson finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and 2 runs scored. Smith batted 2-for-4 with 2 RBI’s. Freshmen Martha Simmons and Mollie Tolar, junior Maegan Burney and sophomore Dyiamon Robinson collected 1 hit each. Simmons and junior Emma Turbeville had RBI’s and Robinson scored a run.
The Lady Eagles grabbed an early 2-0 lead. Simmons reached base on an error. Davisson slammed a double to centerfield, and Turbeville launched a sacrifice fly that scored Simmons. Smith followed with a single past shortstop that scored Davisson.
The Lady Knights answered with a run in the 4th inning. Brisson spanked a single to right-centerfield, stole 2nd base then raced home as sophomore Lena Trinidad reached base on an error.
Robinson rapped a single to centerfield to start the home 4th then stole 2nd base. Simmons drove in Robinson with a single to pad the East lead to 3-1.
West Bladen bounced back with a run in the 5th as Durden smashed a single to centerfield. Singletary belted a single to centerfield, and Taylor beat out a bunt single. Vendrick’s sacrifice fly to leftfield plated Durden and trimmed the margin to 3-2.
Junior Karli Priest yanked a single to left to begin the East 6th inning. Tolar and Burney legged out bunt singles, and Priest dashed home on an error to boost the lead to 4-2.
Coach Pam Stephens’ Lady Knights improved to 2-4 with the victory and will host Hoke County Wednesday night at 7. East Bladen, now 2-2, will travel to West Bladen Friday for a rematch.
West Bladen 000 110 4 – 6-10-2
East Bladen 200 101 1 – 5-11-2
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