WEB CAST.
The Varsity Softball team was on a two game losing skid as they entered play on Thursday night and the road to victory was a very tough one as the foe on the other side happened to the the Apex Cougars, who, were coming into play ranked fourth in the state, but Garner found a way on Thursday to down Apex 5-4 in dramatic fashion.
Garner (8-2) began the scoring in the first inning when Mary Scott Powell reached base when the Apex first basemen couldn't hold the bag on a throw, two batters later, Powell scored when Ashley Carroll reached on another Apex error and it was 1-0 Trojans. Head Coach Moe Barbour then pushed the envelope again as on a base hit from Kimmie Stewart, Barbour sent Carroll home but she was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Apex (10-2) came right back in the top of the second with a run of their own as with a runner on third, the Cougars played some small ball of their own with a squeeze play to bring home their first run of the game.
Those would be the only two runs scored until the sixth inning as both pitchers dueled in outstanding fashion. But, in the sixth, Garner finally got to Apex starter Natalie Kelmann. Mary-Scott Powell led off the inning with a single to left followed by a bunt single from Raven Smith then, Ashley Carroll laced a double to left field to give Garner a 2-1 lead.
Kasey Hamrick followed Carroll with a double of her own to plate another run and it was 3-1 Garner, however, during Hamrick's at bat, Apex tried to pick Raven Smith off of third but the throw went into left field allowing Smith to score and going to Apex's final at bat, Garner was up 4-1.
The three run lead wouldn't hold up for Garner as Apex showed why they are the fourth ranked team in the state as they rallied four three runs to tie the game in the top of the seventh. A lead off walk to Samantha Slade started the fiasco, that was followed by three consecutive base hits allowing Apex to tie the game before Christina Gower struck out the side to end the frame.
In the bottom half, Garner needed a run to win it and they got just what they needed. With one out, Meghan Strickland walked and was then lifted for a pinch runner in Anna Burton. The next Trojan hitter was the pitcher Christina Gower who on a one ball, two strike pitch, lined a ball just fair down the third base line and it went into the left field corner allowing Burton to round third a score standing up and give Garner a 5-4 win over the 4th ranked team in the state.
Garner will return to action on Tuesday night at 7:00 when they travel to West Johnston for a key conference clash.
Softball Holds on to Down 4th Ranked Apex
