CULLMAN – The Cullman Lady Bearcats claimed the 6A, Area 14 softball title Wednesday evening, after getting big three-run home runs two games in a row in the tournament.
On Tuesday night, Hannah Morton cracked a three-run blast that extended the lead as Cullman went on to defeat Fort Payne 9-5 in the finals of the winner's bracket.
Wednesday evening, Bailey Swann had one more dramatic. Her three-run homer allowed the Lady 'Cats to win 12-2 in the finals with Fort Payne, getting the game over by the 10-run rule in the fifth inning.
For the three games in the area tournament on campus for two days, Cullman belted seven home runs and finished up with 31 runs, while holding Brewer and Fort Payne combined to seven runs.
Fort Payne fought through the Cullman loss Tuesday night, getting by Albertville Wednesday afternoon 3-2 when they scored the game winner on a single in the bottom of the seventh with two outs.
The Lady Wildcats started the title game with a 1-0 lead when Ashylyn Holland led off with a double to left and scored on a ground ball to short by Hannah Buffington.
Then Cullman matched them with a run in its half of the first. Sierra Easterwood drew a walk, stole second and scored on a single by McKensi Burks.
The home run power came into effect for Stephanie Conner's squad in the second when Meredith McPherson went deep against Lacy Blankenship over the left-field fence and a 2-1 lead.
Cullman got a huge lead during the third on five runs, by five hits with a three-run blast by Tiffani Schwaiger and a two-run double down the right-field line from Kennedy Wren. The Lady 'Cats went to the fourth up by the score of 7-1.
Brooke Ingram gave Fort Payne a slight charge, leading off the fourth with a solo homer, but the Lady Wildcats were shut down when Olivia Schwaiger got Blankenship to ground to Easterwood at short to end the inning, with two runners in scoring position.
Cullman's defense was on in the Fort Payne fifth. Buffington doubled with one out, then was gunned down trying to move to third on a grounder hit to Easterwood at short. Easterwood threw to Morton, taking the sting out of a potential rally by the Lady Wildcats.
Easterwood played well at shortstop for Cullman, collecting four assists on groundouts, while Morton tallied three from her position at third.
In the Cullman fifth, Olivia Schwaiger led off with a double to left,then scored on a single by McPherson. Wren grounded out to short with McPherson sliding to safety at third on the throw.
Faith Guest belted a single up the middle with McPherson racing home to make it 9-2. Easterwood followed with a single, setting up Swann's game-ending home run as the Cullman Lady Bearcats claimed another area championship, sweeping through Area 14 without a loss in nine total games.
The Lady Bearcats take their area championship and 20 wins for the season to Huntsville next weekend for the 6A North Regional at the Kiwanis Sportsplex.
Cullman will be making its third consecutive appearance in the regional, looking to fight through serious competition next weekend to return to Montgomery for the Elite Eight the following week (May 18-20).
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