FORT MILL -- Indian Land eked out a 2-1 victory over visiting Fox Creek in extra innings, advancing one step closer to the Class A state softball finals Saturday.
The pitchers' dual between the Lady Warriors' Kimber Coley and the Lady Predators' Danielle Page saw just six combined hits and three combined runs as Indian Land knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Coley cruised through the first seven innings, allowing only one Fox Creek hit, a two-out single by Breanne Thomasson in the fourth. The hit was the only baserunner for the Lady Predators until the seventh inning.
Fox Creek's Danielle Payne came up with a single leading off the seventh inning, and advanced to third as the ball rolled to the fence past the right fielder. Payne scored on a fielder's choice one batter later to tie the score.
Indian Land regrouped and recorded the final two outs of the seventh, but could not plate any runs, forcing extra innings.
Coley set down the Lady Predators in order in the top of the eighth inning.
Indian Land needed just one run to advance and had the top of the order due up in its half of the eighth, but the first two batters failed to get on base.
With two outs and none on, Coley came up with a clutch double. Senior Jacqueline Delaune followed Coley's double with a walk-off single into left field to lift Indian Land to the one-run win.
Coley not only scored the winning run, but also kept her team in the game with an outstanding pitching performance. The senior allowed just one run on two hits through eight inning while striking out seven Fox Creek batters.
The game was not what Lady Warriors coach Monica Barfield expected, but she was relieved to sneak out with a win.
"We were not mentally prepared to play this afternoon," said Barfield following the win. "Kimber Coley was awesome for us on the mound, but we had trouble all game at the plate.
"We had great senior leadership with Coley and Delaune, and I think their playoff experience really proved to be the difference for us this afternoon. We will have to play much better if we want to advance."
A familiar foe awaits Indian Land, as the Lady Warriors will travel to face Chesterfield in the winners' bracket Monday afternoon. Chesterfield plays in Region 3-A with the Indian Land.
The Lady Warriors swept the season series with Chesterfield.
"If we hit the ball like we did today," added Barefield, "no way we can beat (Chesterfield)."
Playoff schedule Class AAAA girls soccer Monday Byrnes at Fort Mill, TBA Spartanburg at Clover, 6 p.m. Northwestern at Mauldin, 6 p.m. Nation Ford at Dorman, 7 p.m. Class A girls soccer Greenville Tech at Indian Land, 6 p.m. Class A softball Indian Land at Chesterfield, TBA Class AAAA boys soccer Tuesday Hillcrest at Northwestern, 7 p.m.* Mauldin at Fort Mill, TBA South Pointe at Spartanburg, 6 p.m. Rock Hill at Dorman, TBA Class A boys soccer Lewisville at Indian Land, 6 p.m. Class AAAA boys tennis Fort Mill at Spartanburg, 5 p.m. *Note: Northwestern moved the game time for the boys soccer match for Tuesday back an hour. |
