DUNN- West Bladen remained tied for first place in the Four County Conference softball race Tuesday night with a 12-2 mercy-rule victory over Midway.
Coach Joey Autry’s Lady Knights improved their record to 5-0 in the league and 9-1 overall. Wallace-Rose Hill defeated Pender 10-2 Tuesday night and is also 5-0 in conference play.
After two scoreless innings, the Lady Knights broke the deadlock in the third inning. Senior Jenna Dove drew a walk, and freshman Kyla Reed hammered a double that drove in Dove. Senior Kassidy Anderson reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Senior Logan Autry laced a single that scored Reed, and senior Laikyn Pait drew a walk. Sophmore Carley Dawson’s fielder’s choice plated Anderson, and pitcher Sophia Singletary knocked in Autry and Pait with a single that pushed the West lead to 5-0.
Midway answered with 2 runs in the home third to trim the margin to 5-2. J. J. Sankey tripled and Alyssa Wrench doubled to key the Lady Raider rally.
The Lady Knights tacked on 3 more runs in the fourth quarter. Dove started the inning with a single, and Reed walked. Anderson cracked a single to load the bases, and Autry’s fielder’s choice scored Dove.
Senior Alanna Ludum walloped a triple that scored Reed and Anderson and padded the lead to 8-2.
With one out in the West Bladen fifth, sophmore Conner Brisson, Dove and Reed connected for consecutive singles that loaded the bases. Anderson smacked a single that scored Brisson, and Autry’s fielder’s choice brought in Dove.
Ludlum, Pait and Carley Dawson drew back-to-back-to-back walks to force home Reed and Anderson and push the Lady Knight lead to 12-2.
Singletary scattered 5 hits, struck out 3 and walked none in her 5 innings in the circle to pick up the win.
Reed batted a perfect 2-2 with a run batted in and 3 runs scored. Dove also finished 2-2 at the plate with 3 runs scored. Anderson turned in a 2-4 game with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Ludlum smashed the 2-run triple, and Autry, Singletary and Brisson added one hit each. Autry drove in 3 runs, and Dawson and Singletary had 2 rbi’s each. Pait added an rbi. Autry scored 2 runs, and Pait and Brisson scored one run each.
The Lady Knights will travel to Union Friday for a 6 p.m. game.
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