WILLIAMSTON – Williamston capitalized on 8 errors and defeated Bladen County 12-8 Saturday in the State-Wide Activities Committee (SWAC) 12U Softball State Tournament.
Rylee Chadwick led off the game with a single and scored the first Bladen run as Savannah Turbeville reached base on an error.
Williamston turned 2 walks and 2 errors into a pair of first inning runs to edge in front 2-1.
Lainey Hughes belted a single to begin the Bladen second inning, advanced on Mackenzie Singletary’s fielder’s choice and darted home on a passed ball to tie the game 2-2.
Williamston scored 6 runs in the home second on 4 hits, 2 walks and 2 errors to take an 8-2 lead.
Bladen bounced back with 3 runs in the third inning. AnnaGrey Heustess drew a lead-off walk, and Hughes knocked in pinch-runner Zoe Smith with a single to left-centerfield. Singletary smacked a single that scored Hughes, and Lainey Autry laced a single to right-centerfield that plated Singletary.
Williamston converted two errors and a hit into 3 more runs in the third inning that widened the gap to 11-5.
Savannah Turbeville blasted a triple to rightfield, and Karlie Priest hammered a double that scored Turbeville and trimmed the margin to 11-6.
Williamston turned 2 errors into a run in their half of the fourth.
Smith drew a walk to begin the Bladen fifth, and Hughes delivered a single. Singletary’s fielder’s choice plated Smith, and Chadwick lined a single that scored Hughes and whittled the final margin to 12-8.
The game was stopped in the middle of the fifth inning by the time limit.
Hughes batted a perfect 3-3 to lead the Bladen hitters. Chadwick finished 2-3 at the plate, and Savannah Turbeville slammed a triple. Priest smashed a double, and Singletary and Autry added one single each.
Chadwick pitched all 5 innings and allowed 12 runs – 5 earned – on 4 walks and 5 hits while striking out four.
Bladen County will play at 9 a.m. Sunday in an elimination game.
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