Grace survives on Patrick’s pitching

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Grace Academy’s young softball team got a stabilizing performance from a senior Wednesday morning in the Class A high school state tournament at Starplex No. 4.

Courtney Patrick got the start and was the winning pitcher and also chipped in with an RBI bunt single in a three-run second inning and the Lady Golden Eagles beat Midway 5-2.

Grace (32-8-2) will play Huntingdon (38-5-1) today at 11 a.m. EDT in a losers-bracket quarterfinal.

The Lady Golden Eagles have five freshmen who play regularly. This also marks their first berth in a state softball tournament.

Patrick got late relief help from hard-throwing sophomore left-hander Lacye Walker, who had thrown all 10 innings in a 1-0 loss to Cornersville on Tuesday.

“Courtney did exactly what we asked of her, which was to give us a good few four or five innings,” Grace coach Tina Walker said. “Then I think the change of pace and side of arms seemed to throw them off balance a lot.”

Patrick’s early support began with Winter Simpson’s triple followed by Kaitlyn Eldridge’s run-scoring infield hit. Reagan Schrader then reached on a throwing error that allowed Eldridge to come all the way around and score.

“The girls needed a little bit of a confidence lift, us being so young,” coach Walker said. “I thought if we scored early we’d be able to relax and play the game.”

Grace’s Bethany Cowart doubled into the left-field corner in the fifth. After Lexie Dean’s infield hit, Cowart scored when the throw went to first on Walker’s bunt. Reagan Schrader scored the last run on a wild pitch after ending up on third when her single was misplayed in the outfield.

Midway (25-6) had cut it to 3-2 in the third, taking advantage of three errors and two being hit by pitches.

“I think this ups our confidence,” coach Walker said. “I think we were nervous our first game. We played a little nervous this game, too.”