DUBLIN — The Lady Knights belted out 14 hits with four going for extra bases and scored 25 runs in a 25-3 Four County Conference whipping of Union on Thursday. But the story of the game was in the circle, where Alanna Ludlum came out of her usual crouch behind the plate to twirl a complete-game, three-hitter in her first-ever start.
The Lady Spartans nicked Ludlum for a run in the top of the first inning, but West Bladen took the lead for good with five runs in the home half.
Ludlum blanked Union in the second inning and her teammates extended the lead to 9-1 with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
The Lady Spartans plated a pair of runs in the third, but West Bladen put the game out of reach with 11 runs in the home half to take a 20-3 advantage.
Ludlum kept Union off the board in the fourth and fifth frames, while the Lady Knights scored five runs in the fourth to ice the game under the 15-run rule.
Laikyn Pait led West Bladen by going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, triple and five RBI. Kassidy Anderson was 3-for-3 with a triple and RBI; Carley Dawson was 2-for-2 with an RBI; Logan Autry was 2-for-3 with two RBI; and Sophie Singletary had a double and three RBI.
In earning the win, Ludlum walked five and fanned five.