Bradwell Institute’s softball team closed out the regular season Tuesday with a 10-2 win in five innings over visiting by Windsor Forest.
Although it was a Region 3B-AAAAA matchup, the Lady Tigers already had clinched third place for the playoffs, which started Thursday afternoon. Results were unavailable at press time.
On Tuesday, Windsor Forest threatened in the first inning by loading the bases, but Bradwell freshman pitcher MacKenzie Stewart struck out three straight batters to close out the inning.
Lady Tiger Kasey Smith got the home team on the scoreboard by getting a hit, stealing second and coming home off Sarah Wells’ hit.
In the top of the second, Stewart got two more strikeouts and Kelissa Hargrove tagged out a Windsor Forest runner at third. In the bottom of the inning, Courtney Felton hit the ball into a gap, and the Lady Knights’ infield made a throwing error to let Felton advance to second base. Felton stole third, and Amber Ray laid down a bunt and took off for first base. As the Lady Knights attempted to throw her out at first, Felton ran home and scored. Smith drove in Ray to put the Lady Tigers up, 3-0.
The Lady Knights came back with two runs in the third inning, but Bradwell responded. Hargrove got on base, and Marissa Polston bunted Hargrove home. Felton hit one to center field, and Polston, who came back into the game as Felton’s courtesy runner, stole second and third. Samantha O’ Neal drove in Polston, and Mercedes Trumpower drove in O’Neal as the Lady Tigers went up, 6-2. In the fourth inning, Smith notched an inside-the-park homer. Hargrove later drove in Wells and eventually advanced to third on steals. On a Stewart grounder, the Lady Knights again overthrew first base and Hargrove scored.
Wells pitched a scoreless fifth inning. In their last at-bat, the Tigers scored again when Smith tripled in Ray.
BI ended the regular season 9-12 overall and 3-7 in the region.