Lady Tiger Mackenzie Stewart tossed five strikeouts and was three for three at bat but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Statesboro Blue Devils on the softball field Thursday. The Statesboro girls beat Bradwell, 8-1, in a Region 3-AAAAA contest on the Lady Tigers’ field.
Stewart pitched all seven innings, giving up only one earned run. The Lady Tigers had an early opportunity to tie the game at 3-3 but in two separate innings the Bradwell girls left the runners on base.
It was the Blue Devils’ second win of the season.
The Lady Tigers had a few great defensive plays. Leana Carrette made a run-saving catch in the outfield. Tamia Johnson had three putouts and converted a double play while fielding at third base. Kayleen Pixley helped convert two double-plays. Assisting in the double-plays were Shania Eldridge and Briana Tootle.
As the Lady Tigers’ first baseman Tootle made nine catches for eight putouts.
Statesboro had a better day converting hits into runs. The Blue Devils got nine hits to the Lady Tigers’ seven. But Statesboro earned eight RBIs in the game to help the Blue Devils cross the plate for the win.
Tiger coach Sharyl Eastlake said she thinks her team took the Blue Devils for granted. The Lady Tigers had beaten Statesboro 18-3 earlier this season.
The Lady Tigers are 3-12 overall and 0-4 in Region 3-AAAAA, according to maxpreps.com. The Lady Tigers will play at Long County on Monday and at Liberty County High School on Tuesday.