As rain poured down off and on Friday night the Chesnee softball team fought to the very last inning but fell just short in their bid to advance to the state championship as Legion Collegiate defeated the Eagles 6-4 in the decisive third game at Broome High School.
Chesnee jumped out to the first lead of the game when Paige Scruggs worked a leadoff walk on four straight pitches before advancing to second base on a single to centerfield by Maddie Handy. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead on the very next at-bat when Scruggs raced home from second base on a single to centerfield by Shenandoah Bishop. In the bottom of the first inning Legion Collegiate took the lead at 3-1 which all started with one out in the inning. Lexi Wilkinson started the run with an infield single for the Lancers before moving to third base on a double to right field by Taylor Watson. Wilkinson tied the game at 1-1 when she came home on a single to left field by Joei Owens. Owens was followed to the plate by Gabi Wilson who reached base after being hit by a pitch to load the bases. With the bases loaded Reagan Smith hit a double to centerfield scoring both Watson and Owens to give the Lancers a 3-1 lead at the end of the first inning after the next two batters both popped up to the catcher. Chesnee responded in the top of the second inning with two outs when Eva Vaca reached base on a double to right centerfield before coming around to score on the next at-bat when Paige Scruggs hit a double over the centerfielder's head to narrow the Legion Collegiate lead to 3-2 over the Eagles. Legion Collegiate was unable to score in the bottom of the second but did strike again in the bottom of the third inning. After working a walk to start the inning and then stealing second base the Lancers Gabi Wilson made the score 4-2 on a double to left field by Reagan Smith, as she recorded the third RBI of the game. Smith along with Riley Burton, who reached base after being hit by a pitch, both scored on a single to right field by Malloree Sexton to give the Lancers a 6-2 lead in the third inning with only one out. With the bases still loaded in the third inning, Chesnee third baseman Maddie Handy made a great play with a catch on a line drive before diving to third base for a double play to get the Eagles out of the inning with no more damage. As the rain picked up over the fourth through sixth innings, including a short delay, neither team could get much traction to make a change on the scoreboard. When the game hit the top of the seventh inning the Eagles needed four runs to keep the game going and they done their best to get there. Ali Scruggs opened the inning by working a walk before moving to second base when Maddie Handy worked a walk of her own with one out in the inning. Shenandoah Bishop followed Handy with a double to left centerfield which scored both Scruggs from second base and Handy from first base to cut the Lancers lead to 6-4. Bishop moved to third base on a groundout on the next at-bat but was left there after a flyout on the next at-bat as the Eagles went down swinging but were unable to get any closer. Bishop led the Eagles bats as she recorded three RBIs on a two for four night at the plate with a double and a single. Eva Vaca also had a good night at the plate as she went three for three with a double and two singles. For seven Chesnee senior players, Sam Carver, Paige Scruggs, Ali Scruggs, Callie Burns, Mattie Martin, Eva Vaca, and Shenandoah Bishop, Friday night was their final game in an Eagles uniform as they graduated this past Thursday night. While the Eagles say goodbye to the seven seniors they will also look to bounce back next season as they return four starters from this year's team. Comments are closed.
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