FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind. – With opening round victories on Saturday, Hagerstown and Lincoln advanced to the finals of the Wayne County Softball Tournament.
The Tigers won the first of the day 3-1 over Centerville, while the Golden Eagles needed nine innings to outlast tourney host Northeastern 6-5.
Hagerstown scored twice in the first inning with one coming on a wild pitch and the other on a RBI double by Taylor Kelley.
Gabby Willis, who led the Tigers with two hits, knocked a run in the second with a double.
On the mound, Brytni Dale tossed a compete game for the Tigers as she gave up four hits and struck out five.
Centerville scored its run in the seventh on a RBI single by Amanda Wilson.
Lauren Honkomp went the distance for the Bulldogs striking out seven, while giving up six hits.
Extra Innings
Laynie Russell’s walk-off single to right field in the ninth put the Golden Eagles in the title contest.
With the scored tied 5-5, Lincoln’s Madison Rader bunted and reached base on an error. One batter later, Russell singled to end the game.
Russell also earned the victory on the mound for Lincoln after she worked a perfect ninth in relief of starter Hannah Hall.
The Knights went on top with a run in the first inning on a RBI single by Katie Schneider.
The Golden Eagles answered with RBI single Brooke Crouch and an unearned run.
Northeastern tied the game at 2-2 when Leah Hoskins knocked in a run with a ground out in the third.
Schneider put the Knights on top with a RBI single in the fifth before she scored on an error to make it 4-2.
The lead didn’t last as the Golden Eagles scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead.
Kerrigan Neff and Crouch both knocked in runs and the other score was on a passed ball.
In the sixth, Sierra Gilmore tied the game at 5-5 with her fourth hit of the contest to set the stage for the extra frames.
Centerville (3-2) entertains Knightstown on Monday. Northeastern (5-4) welcomes Richmond the same night.