WEST POINT – West Point looked to continue their recent hot streak in their next to last home game tonight, which was against Good Hope. Each team was sloppy on defense, but the Lady Warriors made up for it, scoring two runs in the third and fourth innings as they held on to win, 5-4.
After a scoreless first inning by both teams, Derekia Tankersley got things started for Good Hope in the second with a line drive single to center field. Alex Stansell followed with a double to left field to put runners on second and third with no outs. Sidnie English reached on an error by Makayla Brown at first, which allowed Tankersley to give Good Hope a 1-0 lead. Abby Neighbors grounded into a double play, and the pinch-runner, Raven Adams, scored on the play to make it a 2-0 score. West Point looked to answer in their half. Hope Shedd and Carli Wilkins drew consecutive walks to lead off the inning. Avery McClure reached on a bunt single to load the bases for Jordyn Kimbrell, but she popped out for out number one. Courtney Blackwood put the Lady Warriors on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one at 2-1.
West Point took advantage of a crucial error by Good Hope in the bottom of the third. Molly Pendley hit a single to left field with one out, then Brown hit a double to center field to put runners on second and third with still just one out. Shedd reached on a bunt single, but Pendley got thrown out at the plate for out number two. Wilkins hit a fly ball to English in left field, and she dropped it, allowing Brown and Shedd to score on the error, and that allowed West Point to take a 3-2 lead.
Good Hope started a two-out rally in the fourth. Stansell hit a single to left field, then English made up for her error by tying the game at three with an RBI double. West Point looked to answer in their half. Kimbrell walked, then Blackwood hit a single to left field. Two outs later, Pendley drew a walk to load the bases for Brown, who delivered a big hit with a two-run single to give the Lady Warriors a 5-3 lead.
Stansell hit a one-out single in the top of the sixth as Good Hope looked to start a rally. After English reached on a fielder's choice, Neighbors drew a walk, which ended Josey Gammon's day. Wilkins came in, and Mykale Lowe reached on an error by the new first baseman, Pendley, and English scored on the play to cut it to 5-4. Wilkins worked around a single by Erika Woodall in the final inning to pick up the win for West Point, who improved to 22-11-1 on the season.
Gammon went five-and-two-thirds, giving up five hits and four runs, two of them earned, walking two and striking out none. Wilkins allowed just one hit in one-and-a-third innings. Brown had two hits and two RBIs. Blackwood added a hit and an RBI, and Lillie Burdette, Olivia Ball, Pendley, Shedd and Kimbrell each had a hit. The Lady Warriors are now 6-2 in their last eight games. They will participate in the Good Hope Softball Invitational tomorrow and Saturday, taking on Addison at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Josie McDonald went five innings, allowing eight hits and five runs, three of them earned, walking five and striking out one. English pitched a perfect sixth. Stansell went perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3. English had one hit and two RBIs. Woodall and Tankersley had a hit each. The Lady Raiders will play Holly Pond tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the Good Hope Softball Invitational.
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