By Joshua Price/Sports Editor
Ashville High School’s Erieanna Gilbert crushed a high fastball deep over the centerfield wall in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Lady Bulldogs a 4-2 win over Hokes Bluff in the Class 3A, Area 10 varsity girls softball tournament at Susan Moore on May 3. The loss eliminated the Lady Eagles, thus ending season play.
Hokes Bluff played gritty, determined softball – arguably the best the team has performed in a few weeks.
Baserunners were in abundance due to the sloppy field conditions, with both teams earning infield hits because groundballs simply wouldn’t travel further than ten feet in the mud. Both teams placed runners, but neither team could produce a run.
Hokes Bluff broke the scoring ice in the top of the sixth inning.
Hannah Evans scored on a passed ball, giving Hokes Bluff a 1-0 lead.
Courntey Pierce scored moments later on a error by the Ashville second baseman, giving the Lady Eagles a 2-0 lead.
Ashville answered in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of runs to tie the match.
Chelsea Machleit and Savannah Ward paced the Lady Eagles’ offense, each slapping a pair of hits. Summer Wilson reached base three times.
Ashville defeated J.B. Pennington earlier, 11-0, to setup the match with Hokes Bluff. The Lady Bulldogs will face Susan Moore today (May 4) at noon for a chance to advance to the area championship series against Glencoe.