GARNER — Amanda Hulmes lofted a bloop single in the bottom of the ninth to lift Garner to a 2-1 victory over Richmond Senior in the second round of the 4A state playoffs Tuesday night.
The Trojans took advantage of a walk and an error to get the game-winning run into scoring position.
Trailing 1-0, the Raiders tied the game in the top of the seventh. Ashton Davenport led off the frame with a single and Chelsea Davis followed with a bunt single. After Jessica Steen sacrificed Davenport and Davis to second and third, Jennifer Steen hit a ground ball off the leg of Garner pitcher Lauren Marbrey. Steen was retired at first, but Davenport was able to race home with the tying run.
Casey Snead pitched all eight innings for the Raiders, allowing six hits and striking out 10.
“Casey did her job, we just couldn’t hit the ball,” Richmond coach Wendy Wallace said. “Garner did what they had to do to win the game. We got baserunners on late in the game, but they made the plays they had to.
“They were swinging the bats a little more aggressively then we did through the first six innings and that was the difference in the game.”
The Raiders finish the season with a 16-10 record. The Trojans (20-2) will face Jack Britt in the third round on Friday. The Buccaneers eliminated Laney.
In other games involving SEC teams, Purnell Swett and West Johnston were scoreless in the top of the third inning before the contest was suspended because of weather. The game is scheduled to be continued at 5 p.m. today. The Scotland-Holly Springs contest was postponed until 6 p.m. today.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com
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