The Hampton softball team opened the District 1-A Tournament with a win.
The Lady Bulldogs rolled to a 17-4 win over University High on Wednesday evening in the District 1-A tournament play-in game.
With the win, Hampton advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament. The Lady Bulldogs will take on Unaka on Monday at Happy Valley.
Wednesday’s win was the first on-field victory in the District 1-A tournament since 2009 when the Lady Bulldogs upended UH 13-12 in an elimination game.
Hampton had a forfeit victory over Sullivan North in the opening round last season.
Hampton opened the game with a statement.
The Lady Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead in the top of the first as Madison Setlock, Abbie Lunsford, Macy Henry, Rachel Fair and Lacey Smith touched home plate.
The Hampton defense limited UH in the bottom of the inning to take the lead into the second.
Neither team was able to get on the board in the second, but Hampton got rolling again in the third as the Lady Bulldogs plated five runs to open the inning, and added three more to their lead in the fourth.
From there, Hampton hit cruise control to keep the season alive.
Setlock finished with two hits including a double, while Rachel Fair and Smith each added a triple.
Abby Willis, Cheyenne Fair, Lunsford, and Henry each had a hit.
