After falling behind early in the first inning the Chesnee softball team used a fourth inning rally to push the Upper State championship series to a decisive third game with a 4-3 home victory over Legion Collegiate on Wednesday night.
"I knew at practice yesterday they were ready to play," said Chesnee head coach Tripp Fogle. "I shook Coach Cooke's hand after the game and we both agreed these were two excellent teams and we're just blessed to be the one to come out on top tonight." Legion Collegiate jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Aleah Roy singled to the outfield before coming around to score on a Morgan Langley double giving the Lancers the first lead of the game at 1-0. Two batters later Reagan Smith blasted a two run home run to left centerfield to put the Lancers up 3-0 after the top of the first inning. In the top of the second the Lancers were attempting to add to their lead but a beautiful diving catch by Chesnee's Skylar Barrett robbed them of that opportunity. "Tonight was such a big night but you never know what's going to happen," said Barrett. "You just have to be prepared when the moment comes to make a play. I'm glad I was able to step up in a pressure situation for my team." After a pair of singles in the third inning, the second coming with two outs, Eagles pitcher Sam Carver was able to strike out the next batter to strand a runner in scoring position holding the deficit at three midway through three innings of play. The Eagle's bats finally came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning as Kyleigh Thompson worked a lead off walk followed by Eva Vaca who reached base on an attempted fielder's choice, as the Lancers tried to get Thompson at second base but she reached base before the throw arrived. Vaca was inserted into the lineup after not starting the previous two games but the senior stepped up when the Eagles needed her as she reached base in both plate appearances while also scoring a run. "She has done this all season," said Fogle. "She has kept working in the cage and took advantage of her opportunity tonight. She is a team first player and did what she needed to do." Paige Scruggs followed Vaca with a single while an error on the play allowed Thompson to plate the Eagles first run of the game. Sam Carver helped her own cause with a single to drive home Vaca as Maddie Handy followed with a double to score Scruggs tying the game at 3-3. Shenandoah Bishop gave the Eagles their first lead of the game on a single to left field that scored Carver giving Chesnee a 4-3 lead. "The characteristic I love the most about this team is there is no panic," said Fogle. "Our focus was to get outs defensively and get on base offensively." After giving up consecutive one out singles in the top of the fourth inning Carver was able to get a liner to third baseman Maddie Handy and followed that up with a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed. Carver continued her strong work in the top of the fifth and sixth innings as she worked around a leadoff single in the fifth while she sent the Lancers down in order in the sixth inning. The Lancers started the top of the seventh inning with back to back singles to give themselves some early momentum. The momentum seemed to stall with the next batter as a Lancer attempted to bunt the runners over but the ball was ruled to have hit the batter once she had left the box for the first out. Hannah Henderson recorded out number two as she drifted out to shallow left field to catch a pop up before Maddie Handy recorded the final out when she fielded a grounder cleanly and dove to touch third base ahead of the runner coming from second base for the force out. The Eagles played a tremendous game defensively as they weren't charged with an error and got great plays from both Maddie Handy and Skylar Barrett. "I'm extremely pleased with Maddie and Skylar's defense tonight," said Fogle. "They are two of our younger players as Skylar is a freshman and Maddie is a sophomore. These underclassmen are playing hard on both sides of the ball." Sam Carver had an excellent performance in the circle as she allowed three runs, with none coming over her final six innings of work, as she picked up the win while striking out five batters. "I was a little worried after the first inning but I knew I had to regroup and buckle down for all the seniors out here," said Carver. "I knew my teammates would have my back at the plate and behind me defensively." Chesnee will face the Lancers again on Friday in the final game of the Upper State championship series at Broome High School at 7:00 PM. The Eagles will be the designated road team based on a coin flip after game two. "Anytime you're in a situation like this you have to show up and be ready," said Carver. "It's a fifty-fifty game that anyone can win." Comments are closed.
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