It was a Saturday thriller on Stoney Creek, and Hampton came out on top.
The Lady Bulldogs plated two runs in the eighth inning to take a 4-2 victory over Unaka in nonconference play.
Hampton opened the scoring in the top of the first as Malory Lamb hit a double that scored Emma Birchfield. That gave the Lady Bulldogs a 1-0 lead going to the home side of the first.
Unaka battled back in the bottom of the first as Katlyn Dugger hit a single to score Brooklyn Campbell. The Lady Rangers took a 2-1 lead when Devalynn Harter plated Haley Davis with a single.
Neither team was able to capitalize on baserunners until the top of the fifth. In the visitors side of the fifth, Hannah Smith scored after Lamb put the ball in play to even things up.
The game entered the seventh tied up at 2-2.
Hampton saw Maleah Scalf get on base with a two-out single, but the Lady Bulldogs were unable to plate the run.
Emma Taylor got on base for Unaka with a two-out single, and Campbell hit a double to put the winning run on third base. However, the Hampton defense held strong to force extra innings.
The Lady Bulldogs went to work quickly in the top of the eighth as Lamb hit a leadoff double, and Bri Davis hit a single as HHS got two runners on base. Lauren Smith came up big for Hampton in the next at-bat as she put the ball in play and plated the two runs.
The Lady Bulldogs were unable to add any more runs and took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the frame.
Unaka saw Kaci Bare and Kimberly Profitt get on base with singles. However, the Hampton defense fielded a ground out to end the game and take the win.
Lamb and L. Smith had two hits and two RBI for Hampton, while Mattie Holtsclaw and Scalf had two hits. H. Smith, Birchfield, and Davis each added a hit.
In the pitching circle, Davis had eight strikeouts.
Campbell led Unaka with three hits, while Bare had two hits. Dugger and Harter had a hit and an RBI apiece. Mollie Buckles and Taylor had a hit each.
Profitt struck out nine batters in the pitching circle.
