Ridgeland draws Marist in state softball first round
The Ridgeland Lady Panthers advanced to the Class 4A state tournament with a sweep of visiting Gilmer in the Region 6-AAAA playoffs last Tuesday night, but Ridgeland had to settle for the No. 4 seed from the region after narrow loss at Northwest on Thursday.
Homestanding Ridgeland needed just three innings to beat the Lady Bobcats in Game 1, 15-0. They scored four times in the top of the first inning, three coming on a homerun by Dasia Watkins. They added 11 runs in the third inning. Katie Davis launched a two-run homer to start the frame and Jenna Morgan blasted a three-run shot to close it out as the game was called after three innings.
Watkins finished with three hits and five RBIS in the opener. Grayson James was 2-for-3 with a double. Kiera Foster had two hits and an RBI. Danielle Cross knocked in a pair of runs. Ciera Foster had a triple and Laine Hicks chipped in with an RBI. Bryanna Goldsmith pitched all three innings, allowing four hits and striking out two.
In the nightcap, Ridgeland - playing as the visiting team - led 9-2 going into the bottom of the seventh. Gilmer scored four runs to try and get back in the ball game, but it was too little too late as the Lady Panthers advanced.
Hicks had three hits and drove in three runs, while Morgan was 3-for-5 with a solo homer. Watkins picked up two more hits. Ciera Foster and Marianne Beliveau had two hits and one RBI apiece. Cross doubled and drove in three runs, while James also added a double.
Maddie Williams went 6.2 innings in the circle to get the victory. She allowed four earned runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Goldsmith gave up two hits and one earned run, but was able to get the final out and record the save.
Ridgeland refused to go down without a fight on Thursday, erasing a 10-3 deficit with seven straight runs, six coming in the top of the seventh. However, the Lady Bruins would push home the game-winner on a two-out hit a half-inning later to claim an 11-10 victory in the slugfest.
Ciera Foster singled, tripled and blasted a grand slam homer to finish with five RBIS. Kiera Foster was 4-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Morgan continued her torrid pace by going 3-for-5, including another homerun, two RBIS and three stolen bases, while James was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Goldsmith took the loss in the circle, while Williams threw 1.2 innings of relief.
Ridgeland (17-12) was scheduled to begin the state playoffs at Region 7 champion Marist this week.