FAYETTEVILLE — The Lady Knights of West Bladen exploded for 11 runs in the second inning Monday to nip Freedom Christian Academy in a non-conference game, 16-15.
The game featured not only the 31 runs, but included 27 hits, 15 errors and, for the Lady Knights, a grand slam hone run by Jenna Dove. It was also the back end of a home-and-home series between the two teams — the Lady Patriots took an 11-7 win at West Bladen on March 11.
On Monday, Freedom Christian took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the Lady Knights had an offensive eruption in the top of the second with 11 runs.
The Lady Patriots, however, got back into the game with seven runs in the home half of the inning to pull within 11-9.
West Bladen scratched for a pair of runs in the top of the third to open a 13-9 advantage, only to see Freedom Christian plate three runs and get within 13-12 after three frames.
The Lady Knights put three runs on the board in the top of the fourth to extend the lead to 16-12, but the home team scored a run in the fifth and added two more in the seventh before the rally was squelched.
West Bladen pounded out 18 hits, led by Laikyn Pait, who was 4-for-5 with two RBI. Alanna Ludlum was 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI; Jenna Dove was 1-for-5 with a home run and four RBI; Carley Dawson was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI; Kassidy Anderson was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
The two teams made things interesting in the field, with the Lady Knights committing eight errors and Freedom Christian seven.
West Bladen improved to 7-7 overall, while the Lady Patriots fell to 10-7.