Once the Hampton offense got rolling, the Lady Bulldogs took full advantage.
Hampton erased an early deficit to take an 11-2 victory over Happy Valley on Tuesday in the District 1-2A Tournament at Hampton.
With the win, the Lady Bulldogs advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal clash at Chuckey-Doak against the Lady Black Knights. Happy Valley’s season came to a close with the loss.
Trinity Bowers and Miley Miller reached base to open the game for HV while Hannah Smith opened the bottom of the first with a single, but neither squad was able to capitalize on the baserunners in the first.
The Lady Warriors struck in the second.
After Mackenzie Skeans and Paige Collins reached base with a walk and a single, respectively, Bowers hit a single to center field to drive in Skeans. Collins scored after a Hampton miscue to take a 2-0 lead after the top of the second.
The Lady Bulldogs responded in a big way in the bottom of the third.
After Hampton loaded the bases with no outs, Malory Lamb launched a triple to deep centerfield that allowed Emma Birchfield, Maleah Scalfm, and Smith to score to give Hampton a 3-2 lead. Bri Davis hit a single to drive in A Potter – who was pinch running for Lamb – to push the lead to 4-2, and Lauren Smith pushed Mattie Holtsclaw across the plate to add to the lead.
Hadley Vines capped the scoring in the frame after she scored off a Dru Nickles double to give the Lady Bulldogs a 6-2 lead after three complete innings.
Hampton added two runs in the bottom of the fourth as Birchfield pushed Scalf across home plate with a single, and L. Smith singled to plate Birchfield.
The Lady Bulldogs added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth and then limited HV to secure the win.
Lamb finished 3-for-4 with three RBI to pace Hampton, while Davis had four hits with two RBI. H. Smith had three hits.
Vines added two hits and an RBI, and L. Smith added a hit and two RBI.
In the pitching circle, Davis struck out five and allowed just one earned run on seven hits.
Bowers led HV as she went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Natalie Cline, Keira Reece, Collins, and Miller each had a hit. Bowers recorded five strikeouts in the pitching circle.
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