Elizabethton saw the Lady Blue Devils rally to force extra innings. However, Haley Fair and the Lady Cyclones had the winning answer.
Fair launched a two-run homerun in the top of the eighth to power EHS to a 4-2 victory over Unicoi County in Region 1-AA Softball Championship. It is Elizabethton’s first region tournament win in Erwin.
After a scoreless first inning, Elizabethton got on the board when Kennedy Richardson drove in Katelyn Loudy with a double. The Lady Cyclones increased the lead to 2-0 in the top of the third when Lauren Brickey scored on an Allison Riddle single to right field.
The Lady Blue Devils got on the board in the home side of the third inning when Abby Hensley scored off a Tanya Chavez double. In the bottom of the sixth, Chavez tied the game at 2-2 with a home run over the right field fence.
Neither team was able to plate a run in the seventh setting the stage for Fair’s heroics. The Lady Cyclones defense retired Unicoi in order to take the win.
At the plate, Richardson went 4-for-4 to lead Elizabethton, while Riddle went 2-for-4. Autumn Hensley finished the night 2-for-2. Jordan Grindstaff and Macie Herrmann added hits for EHS.
Brickey picked up the win in the circle as she allowed just one hit in nine innings of work. Kelli Cunningham got the starting nod and pitched a solid game for Elizabethton.
The Lady Cyclones will now await the Region 2-AA runner-up. The game between CAK and Union County on Wednesday was postponed due to weather.
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