DUBLIN — A West Bladen miscue in the field fueled a late-game surge by visiting Washington Friday, and the Lady Pam Pack went on to take an 8-3 win in the second round of the state’s Class 2-A softball playoffs.
The loss ends the Lady Knights’ seven-game win streak and their season at 20-4.
“We had a tough time in the field,” said West Bladen coach Joey Autry.
That would indeed play a big part in the outcome, but not until later in the game.
After a scoreless first inning, Laikyn Pait got something started for the Lady Knights with a long single off the fence in right-center. Washington error allowed Sophia Singletary to reach on a bunt attempt and moved Pait to third. A stolen base put two runners in scoring position with one out, but strikeouts ended the threat and kept the score knotted at 0-0.
After a scoreless third inning of what was turning into a pitcher’s duel, the Lady Pam Pack got a lead-off solo home run in the top of the fourth — the first Washington hit against Singletary. An error and a double led to another run and gave the visitors a 2-0 edge.
Alanna Ludlum opened the home half of the fourth with a walk and, after an out, Carley Dawson smashed her second home run in as many games to dead center, tying Friday’s contest at 2-2.
But the hope for a late-game, come-from-behind surge for the Lady Knights, much like the one that got them past Farmville Central in the first round, wasn’t to be.
In the top of the fifth, Washington used a walk, a controversial reversed call on a fouled third-strike bunt attempt that eventually turned into a single, along with a run-scoring single to take a 3-2 edge.
In the top of the sixth, the Lady Pam Pack extended the lead to 5-2 with the help of a two-run error for a 5-2 lead.
Washington plated its final three runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a two-run home run, and carried an 8-2 advantage into the bottom of the inning.
Conner Brisson opened the home seventh with a single and, after two outs, Kassidy Anderson stroked a single and Logan Autry legged out an infield hit that filled the bases. Ludlum ripped an RBI single to cut the deficit to 8-3, but the uprising ended there.
Singletary took the loss in the circle for the Lady Knights. She twirled a complete-game and gave up just four earned runs, seven hits, two walks and fanned two.
At the plate for West Bladen, Pait led the way with a 2-for-3 night; Anderson was 2-for-4; Dawson had the solo home run; and Ludlum had an RBI.
“I’m incredibly humbled and so appreciative God has allowed me these past two years to speak life into these ladies,” Coach Autry said. “This is an amazing group of young ladies … they truly believe the best is yet to come.”
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.