BLADENBORO –West Bladen rode a 5-run, 3rd-inning explosion to an 8-4 victory over St. Pauls Thursday night in Three Rivers Conference softball action.
With the Lady Knights trailing 1-0, senior Abigail Madden slapped an infield hit off the pitcher, and sophomore Rylee Chadwick was hit by a pitch. Junior Jessalynn Vendrick smacked a single to centerfield that plated Madden with the tying run.
Sophomore Mackenzie Singletary then delivered a 2-run single that brought home Chadwick and Vendrick. Senior Shelby Pharr walloped a triple that scored Singletary, and senior Madison Walters’ bunt single plated Pharr and pushed the Lady Knight lead to 5-1.
Sophomore Kylie Durden was hit by a pitch to begin the West 4th inning, and Madden reached base on an error. Chadwick ripped a 2-run double into the leftfield corner that scored Durden and Madden. Vendrick then launched a sacrifice fly to left that brought home Chadwick for an 8-1 lead.
Singles by Alicia Monroe, Jordan Ivey and Diana Carbonell produced a St. Pauls run in the 6th inning. Hits by Braxtin Kinlaw and Monroe sandwiched around an error led to a pair of Lady Bulldog runs in the 7th inning. Madison Williams singled and scored the 1st St. Pauls run on an error in the opening inning.
Pharr batted 2-for-4 with a triple, a run scored and a run batted in to lead the West Bladen hitters. Singletary finished 2-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Madden was also 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored. Chadwick slammed the 2-run double and scored twice.
Freshman Lena Trinidad doubled, and Vendrick singled, drove in a pair of runs and scored one. Walters had the bunt single and a RBI, and Durden scored a run.
Chadwick pitched a complete game and allowed 4 runs – 2 earned – on 10 hits while striking out eight. Kinlaw, Monroe and Carbonell all batted 2-4 to lead the St. Pauls hitters.
Coach Pam Stephens’ Lady Knights raised their record to 5-1 in TRC play and 9-3 overall. They will host league-leading South Columbus Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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