A two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth helped the South Adams Starfires to a comeback victory over Blackford Monday in Berne.Â
The Stars led off the sixth with a single by Peyton Pries. Sofia Schwartz followed with a triple to tie the game at 8-8 and was then given a courtesy runner in Lyndsey Lefever to give the home team the best chance to score.
After Serenity Lehman got a key strikeout, Kenzie Neuenschwander hit a ground ball to the right side that could score Lefever and she came home in what was eventually the winning run in the game.Â
With three non-conference games left to play in the week before sectional, coach Jessie O’Dell elected to go with Reagan Beitler in the circle to start the game. Beitler allowed eight runs and did not make it out of the third inning, but Gracy Bixler came on in relief and was lights out, striking out 10 of the 18 batters she faced and allowing just two hits. No Bruin who faced Bixler crossed the plate the rest of the game.
After Blackford scored twice in the top of the first, South Adams answered with two of their own, but it was a five-run third that was key to staying in the game.
After Bixler entered and got the final out in the top of the third, Avery Brown started the half inning with a single. She entered the game for Bekah Patterson early on.
Hits by Peyton Pries, Tessa Bernard and Neuenschwander made the score 8-4 and Blackford pitching allowed another walk and a hit batter to load the bases for leadoff hitter Macy Pries, who singled and drove in two more.Â
Macy was 2 for 3 and Peyton 2 for 2, while Schwartz finished 3 for 4 in the win.
The team is now 13-7 having won three in a row.
The Starfires’ busy week continues with a road trip to Madison-Grant Tuesday.