BOILING SPRINGS, SC - After suffering a tough loss to start the 5A district playoffs, the Boiling Springs softball team responded with an impressive performance at both the plate and in the pitching circle to grab a 13-5 victory over the JL Mann Patriots in a playoff elimination game on Friday night.
"Even though we've had a lot closer and tighter games this year than this one tonight, I think tonight was the moment everything clicked for us," said Bulldogs head coach Hannah McDowell. "The energy was on a level it hasn't been at all year as all the girls lost their voices and we played like it was tied ballgame the whole game. It was probably the most fun game I've ever been a part of or that any of our coaching staff has been a part of." JL Mann got the first two scores of the game as they hit a leadoff home run to straight centerfield and the second batter also scored but from that point on, the Patriots were limited at the plate thanks to a strong pitching performance from the Bulldogs. Boiling Springs got a stellar pitching performance from freshman Chloe Sloand, who was making her first playoff start in front of the home crowd, pitched all seven innings while allowing just five runs and striking out 14 Patriots batters. She said that while she had nerves making the start, she knew her teammates had her back which brought the nervousness level down. "It felt good as the team was just working together and the energy was there in the dugout as everyone was talking each other up," said Sloand. "I just ignored the nerves because I knew that my team would be there for me." McDowell said that she couldn't be prouder of the way her young freshman pitcher stepped up in such a big situation for the team. "I could speak forever about Chloe but she has that mindset that she's going to go and get the win no matter what it takes," said McDowell. "She showed us that when she played JV ball this year and is now stepping up and doing the same thing at the varsity level. She is very head strong about being there for her team and she has put in the work all year long." While Sloand was dominating from the pitching circle, the Boiling Springs bats were doing a pretty good job themselves on Friday night. The Bulldogs Sydnee Spencer got the bottom of the first inning started with a double to left field before moving to third on a groundout by Trey Copeland. Sayde Parris walked and later stole second base which allowed Spencer to steal home, cutting the Patriots lead to 2-1 over the Bulldogs. In the second inning the Bulldogs broke open the game as they scored six runs to take a 7-2 lead over the Patriots. With one out in the inning, Sloand worked a walk and moved to second base on a Gracen Bennett walk before moving to third and loading the bases on a Leaha Rushing single to left field. Sydnee Spencer followed Rushing with a single to left field to score Sloand and tie the game at 2-2. Trey Copeland doubled to left field one batter later scoring both Bennett and Rushing to make the Bulldogs lead 4-2 over the Patriots. Sayde Parris followed Copeland with a single to centerfield that scored Spencer to push the lead to 5-2 before Chloe Osteen doubled to right centerfield scoring both Copeland and Parris giving the Bulldogs a 7-2 lead in an inning that saw the Bulldogs bat through their lineup. Gracen Bennet led off the third inning with a double to left field before making the lead 8-3 when she scored on a groundout to third base by Morgan Hammett. With one out in the fourth inning, Emma Wilkins got an infield single before moving to second on a single by Sloand. Gracen Bennett loaded the bases on another single to left field before Wilkins scored on a single to left field by Leaha Rushing to put the Bulldogs lead at 9-3. Boiling Springs made the lead 12-3 on the next at-bat as Sydnee Spencer hit a double to left centerfield clearing the bases as Sloand, Bennett, and Rushing all scored for the Bulldogs. JL Mann added two runs in the top of the fifth inning to make the score 12-5 but the Bulldogs made the score 13-5 when Myah Salters, who was running for Parris who singled to lead off the inning, scored on a single to centerfield by Emma Wilkins. McDowell was proud of how her team was able to get their bats going in such a crucial playoff game. "I think our girls finally just trusted themselves and put the faith in what we had been doing as a team," said McDowell. "Our focus tonight was to be on time with our swings." Sydnee Spencer led the Bulldogs at the plate going four of five with two doubles and two singles while also collecting four RBIs. Boiling Springs with the win will now get a chance at some redemption in the elimination bracket as they'll travel to Blythewood, who gave them their first loss in the district playoffs, after they fell to Lexington 11-1 on Friday night. "I don't think they'll be expecting to go down there and do something special but after what we did here tonight we're just going to keep building and see what we can do," said McDowell. The Bulldogs will travel to Blythewood on Monday night in another elimination game of the district playoffs in a game slated to start at 6:00 PM. The winner of Monday's game will then travel to Lexington to win two games for the district championship on Wednesday night. SATURDAY PLAYOFF SCHEDULE 5A Baseball Playoffs Woodmont at Boiling Springs - 1:00 PM Comments are closed.
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