CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - After clinching it's seventh straight trip to the Southern Athletic Association Softball Championships, No.4 seed Hendrix battled No. 5 seed Centre in the opening round of the conference tournament. After the Colonels struck for three runs in the fifth, the Warriors carved up two doubles and two singles in the seventh frame as
Taylor Oglesby's walk-off single to right field proved to be the difference maker as Hendrix won, 4-3, in dramatic fashion.
Emily Stockalper recorded the lone multi-hit performance from either side Thursday while
Savannah Draud tossed her 10th shutout of the year and did not allow any earned runs while striking out four Colonels. Hendrix improves to 20-17 on the season and remains on the winner's side of the bracket with a date against top seeded Birmingham-Southern College Friday at 11 a.m. CT.
HOW THE WARRIORS SCORED:
GAME 1
- 7th -
Laura Mortan doubled to left field, RBI;
Nicole Hendrix scored.
- 7th -
Jaydan Hunt reached first on a fielding error by lf;
Aubrey Brink advanced to second;
Macy Jo Moody advanced to third; Avery Coldclaser scored, unearned.
- 7th -
Emily Stockalper singled to left field, RBI;
Jaydan Hunt advanced to second;
Aubrey Brink advanced to third;
Macy Jo Moody scored, unearned.
- 7th -
Taylor Oglesby singled to right field, RBI;
Emily Stockalper advanced to second;
Jaydan Hunt advanced to third;
Aubrey Brink scored.
WARRIORS' DECISION(S) ON THE MOUND:
GAME 1
W -
Savannah Draud (8-6); 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R/0 ER, 4 K/2 BB
NOTABLE:
GAME 1
- Hunt picked up the first hit of the day for Hendrix on an infield single in the third inning.
- Draud retired the side in the first, third, fourth and six frames for Hendrix.
- Reames led the seventh inning with a double down the left field line.
- One batter later, Mortan doubled to left field to bring home the first Warrior run of the day.
- Down to their final out, Hunt reached on a fielding error by the left fielder before Stockalper and Oglesby manufactured RBI singles as Hendrix defeated the Colonels, 4-3.
- Stockalper, Mortan and Oglesby picked up RBIs on the day.
- Draud struck out four Colonels while tossing her 10th complete game of the year and picking up her eighth win of the season.
- Hendrix has record at least one SAA Tournament victory for the seventh consecutive year.
WHAT WAS SAID:
"I am incredibly proud of this team," stated a happy head coach
Amy Weaver. "We never gave up; we gutted it out and made it happen. When Liv hit the double to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, I knew we were going to win. It was a great team effort!"
WHO'S NEXT:
Hendrix will battle top seeded Birmingham-Southern College in the next round of the SAA Softball Championships from Chattanooga, Tenn. First pitch is set for Friday at 11 a.m. CT.
