SUBMITTED BY BILLY ESTOK, BMS SOFTBALL COACH:

 

Due to inclement weather and spring break, it had been 15 days since the Bridgeport Lady Braves were able to play a softball game. Yesterday, they took to the road to take on the Washington Irving Lady Hilltoppers at the Robert C. Byrd High School Softball Field.

 

The Lady Braves got on the scoreboard early and often. With one out and Maddie Garner and Gabby Reep on base, Kylie Burke doubled to centerfield bringing home both Garner and Reep with the first runs of the game. Makenna Smith and Mackenzi Matheny followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases.  Rachel Mason worked out a walk that brought home Burke. Jacey Laxton, making her first varsity start, grounded out to the pitcher and that allowed Smith to score. Kiliegh Pugh followed with a single that permitted Matheny and Mason to cross the plate. At the end of the top of the first, BMS held a 6-0 lead.

 

In the bottom of the first inning, WIMS responded with 2 runs of their own. Alyssa Dunn started the frame with a single. Two outs and three walks later Dunn scored the first run for WIMS. The second run scored on a wild pitch that allowed Hannah Collins to score.

 

BMS responded with a four-run count in their half of the second inning. With one out, Reep and Burke walked. Smith then singled to score Burke. Matheny followed with a walk to load the bases. Mason then doubled to right center field to clear the bases and give BMS a 10-2 advantage.

 

In the bottom of the second, Smith walked the first three batters she faced. She then got Ava Fedio to ground out second to first and that allowed Dunn to score. Smith retired the next two batters via a strikeout and ground out pitcher to first. The scoreboard now read BMS 10 and WIMS 3.

 

The Lady Braves tacked on four more runs in the top of the third. Garner singled with one out. Reep walked for the third consecutive time. Burke reached second on an error that saw Garner and Reep score on the play. Smith followed with a walk. Both Burke and Smith advanced a base on a wild pitch. Matheny grounded out to short to first while Burke scored on the play. A poor throw as the ball was being returned to the pitcher allowed Smith to score the fourth run of the inning. The Lady Braves now had a 14-3 lead.

 

The Lady Hilltoppers answered with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the third inning. Five walks, a double, two wild pitches, and a BMS infield error were factors in the scoring. After three innings, BMS was on top by the score of 14-8.

 

In the top of the fourth, Laxton and Molli Enfield were walked to start the inning. Both advanced a base following a wild pitch. Maci Cook then hit a hard shot to third and Laxton was thrown out at the plate. Sydney Snyder, pinch hitting for Garner, grounded out to second and that allowed Enfield to score and Cook advance to second. Reep then reached base on an infield error. Burke followed with her second double of the game that scored Cook and advanced Reep to third.  Smith then singled and Reep and Burke scored. The score was now BMS 18 and WIMS 8.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, Smith retired three of the four batters she faced that inning. The last two were by strikeouts.

 

The final score was BMS 18 and WIMS 8. The win came via the ten-run rule.

 

With its victory, the Lady Braves leveled their regular season to 1 win and 1 loss.

 

Smith, making her first pitching start of the 2018 season, pitched a complete game. Her record now stands at 1-0.

 

The Lady Braves return to action this afternoon as they will take on Buckhannon Upshur Middle School. The game will be played in Buckhannon and game time is set for 5:30 p.m.