Roy, Fort Mill softball fend off Nation Ford

Two big innings of offense and a dominate performance from freshman pitcher Bella Roy propelled the Fort Mill softball team to a 6-3 win over rival Nation Ford on Friday.

Roy pitched a complete game and allowed just five hits, while walking three and striking out 14. The Falcons scored all three of their runs in the first inning.

“Key plays at key times,” Fort Mill coach Chuck Stegall said. “We worked for two days on our game plan. Sometimes it only takes key plays in an inning to win.”

The Falcons wasted no time trying to get an advantage on Fort Mill. Nation Ford’s Sabrina Johnson led the game off with a double to left field to lead the first inning off. Shortstop Chanel Turner then singled for the Falcons, before outfielder Darby Trull drove in Johnson. Second baseman Rachel Petty sacrificed a run in and first baseman Jordyn Williams doubled in Trull.

Fort Mill didn’t have the same luck in the bottom of the first despite getting lead-off batter Taylor Rayborn on. Rayborn was picked off later in the inning for the third out.

After the first, things went awry offensively for Nation Ford. Nation Ford only got one hit after the first inning and had just five base runners the rest of the game.

“We have to learn to close these games and learn to win,” said Nation Ford coach Michael Kidd. “Fort Mill is a great team. It’s a matter of being consistent. We weren’t consistent mentally or with our effort.”

Roy settled down in the second inning, dealing with the bottom half of the Nation Ford lineup, and was able to get three outs while only allowing a one base runner.

Fort Mill catcher Lauren Collie reached on an error to lead the second inning off and then stole second base. Third baseman Cassie McInerney walked and the Jackets put runners at third and second with two outs. Pinch runner Clancy Kerr, running for Collie, scored on a passed ball to put Fort Mill on the board and then Roy singled in McInerney.

In the fourth inning, Roy found her groove and struck out the side. In the bottom of the inning, Kennedy Wolf walked for Fort Mill and Roy singled with an infield hit. Outfielder Amelia Majcina then walked to load the bases for the Jackets with just one out. However, Nation Ford starter Ashton Irvin settled down and got the next two batters out to escape the inning without giving up a run.

Fort Mill added a spark to its offense in the fifth inning as shortstop Payton Lemire singled to start the bottom half of the inning and Collie doubled to get Lemire to third. McInerney then walked and Wolf knocked in two runs on a double to give the Jackets the lead.

In the sixth inning, Rayborn reached on Nation Ford’s third error of the game and later scored on a passed ball. Joslyn Halcom drove in Julia Rajcok on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead for Fort Mill and give them insurance runs heading into the last inning.

This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 8:58 PM with the headline "Roy, Fort Mill softball fend off Nation Ford."