MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- It took six innings, but the four-time defending D-II-AA state softball champion Baylor Lady Red Raiders run-ruled another opponent, this time a 10-0 victory over Brentwood Academy in the opening game of the state tournament Tuesday afternoon at the StarPlex Field Number 3.
The GPS Bruisers also advanced, but it took a three-run third to defeat St.
Benedict by a 3-2 final.
Junior Macy Ann McKnight was the winning pitcher for Baylor as she scattered four hits while striking out five and walking none.
Sophie Piskos, the junior catcher who has been consistent all spring at the plate, finished the game with two hits and two runs scored. She had an RBI-double before ripping a three-run homer in the second when Baylor extended a 1-0 lead to 6-0, the last four runs scoring with two outs.
Brinley Garrison had led off the second with a solo homer and also finished with two runs batted in.
Shortstop Acelynn Sellers also had two hits, starting with a triple and ending with a two-run single in the sixth that ended the game.
“I’m really pleased with how we played today as Macy Ann did her job well and we consistently hit the ball hard on the line,” said Baylor coach Kelli Smith after her girls had improved to 40-3.
“It took us six innings, but we did a good job with outstanding pitching, solid defense and strong hitting. We just have to keep it going,” she added.
The GPS victory over St. Benedict was a bit more difficult as the Bruisers made more errors in that game than in probably the last month, but a three-run third proved to be the difference as the winners improved to 27-7 with the one-run win.
“Both of their runs were unearned as we made a whole bunch of errors,” said GPS coach Susan Crownover later.
“Hannah Sanders was the winning pitcher for us and she did a nice job of working around our mistakes. At this point, I’m just happy to get a win and get to the next game. It doesn’t matter how it looks as long as you win. We were uptight for sure and we’ll have to be much cleaner tomorrow, but a win’s a win and I’ll take it,” Crownover concluded.
Kaitlyn Songer walked with one out in the third and scored on a single by Ansley Blevins. Abbie Reel later reached on an error that allowed the final two runs to score for the Bruisers.
Chapel Cunningham and Blevins both had a pair of hits for GPS while Elizabeth Warwick had a double.
Sanders allowed six hits while striking out five and walking none.
GPS and Baylor will meet in a winners bracket final on Wednesday at 11:30 local time.
BRENTWOOD ACADEMY 000 000 – 0 3 0
BAYLOR 150 022 – 10 12 2
Cathey, Clemmer (5) and Lindholz; McKnight and Piskos.
ST. BENEDICT 001 001 0 – 2 6 2
GPS 003 000 x – 3 7 2
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)