BLYTHEWOOD – The Blythewood softball team staged a furious sixth-inning comeback against Chapin Friday night, but the rally fell short as the Eagles closed out a 10-8 victory over the Bengals.
Down 10-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Bengals picked up five runs on four hits and two Chapin errors to get within striking distance of the Eagles.
Haley McCoy led the inning off with a single and Maddi Bell followed up with a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out for Neilah Browne. McCoy scored on a wild pitch before Browne punched a single into left field to score Bell.
With Chapin’s lead cut to 10-5 and with one out, Ashlee Hoile singled and moved Browne to second. Lauren Hardy grounded into a fielder’s choice that took Browne off the basepaths but kept runners at first and second for I’yanna Velez.
Velez reached base on a fielding error in rightfield, which scored both Hoile and Hardy and brought Velez to second base. With the score 10-7 and two out in the inning for Maya Van Zyl, Van Zyl reached base on an infield error that scored Velez and brought Van Zyl to second.
Unfortunately for the Bengals, the rally got cut short. Josie Smythe, representing the tying run, grounded out to pitcher Leah Cabe, who threw to first for the third out.
Cabe then pitched a scoreless seventh to close out the win for the Eagles.
Velez and McCoy had two hits apiece, one of McCoy’s hits being a double. Bell also doubled.
Andee Dirks led Chapin with three hits, two home runs and 3 runs batted in. Alyssa Brulport went 3-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI. Maddi McMillon went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. Ella Majchrzak had two hits, including a double, and 2 RBI. Taylor Palfrey doubled.
Blythewood bounced right back Monday with a doubleheader dismissal of Northwestern. The Bengals beat the Trojans 5-0 in the first game, then followed up with an 11-0 win in the nightcap.
Bengal pitchers Hardy and Smythe combined to two-hit the Trojans over the course of nine innings.
In the first game, Velez went 2-for-3 with a triple. Hoile, McCoy, and Browne doubled. In the second game, Van Zyl hit two doubles. Browne went 2-for-3 with a double and Smythe went 2-for-3 and batted in two runs. Makalah Ford hit a triple and had two RBI, and McCoy doubled.
Blythewood (11-4, 4-0 Region 4-5A) plays host to Rock Hill today.
Friday
Chapin – 1-0-2-0-3-4-0 — 10, 12, 3
Blythewood – 2-1-0-0-0-5-0 — 8, 8, 1
WP: Leah Cabe. LP: Lauren Hardy.
Hitters: C – Andee Dircks 3-3, HR (2), 3 RBI. Alyssa Brulport 3-3, 2B, 2 RBI. Maddi McMillon 3-4, 2 RBI. Ella Majchrzak 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI. Taylor Palfrey 2B. B – I’yanna Velez 2-4. Haley McCoy 2-4, 2B. Maddi Bell 2B.
Monday Game 1
Northwestern – 0-0-0-0-0 — 0, 1, 2
Blythewood – 4-1-0-0-X — 5, 7, 0
WP: Lauren Hardy. LP: M Campbell.
Hitters: B – I’yanna Velez 2-3, 3B. Ashlee Hoile 2B. Haley McCoy 2B. Neilah Browne 2B.
Monday Game 2
Northwestern – 0-0-0-0 — 0, 1, 4
Blythewood – 0-1-6-4 — 11, 11, 0
WP: Josie Smythe. LP: M Campell.
Hitters: B – Maya Van Zyl 2-3, 2B (2). Nailah Browne 2-3, 2B. Josie Smythe 2-3, 2 RBI. Makalah Ford 3B, 2 RBI. Haley McCoy 2B.
