Ridgeland looked like two different teams in its two home games Wednesday against Madison County in a best-of-three series in the first round of the GHSA Class AAAA state softball playoffs.
The Lady Panthers backed their 1-0 victory in the opener by winning 15-1 in six innings in the second game.
Ridgeland (20-7) advances and will play either Woodward or Upson Lee in the second round starting next Wednesday.
Morgan Crawford threw a no-hitter with four strikeouts in the first game. Madison County's only baserunner came with two outs in the second, when Lauren Griffeth walked and stole second before a groundout ended the inning.
"That was big," Ridgeland coach Richie Wood said. "She kept us in it while our offense was struggling."
Of equal importance, the Lady Panthers played errorless behind her. Conversely, the Lady Red Raiders made five errors - the last coming on a missed throw at first base on pinch-hitter Haley Walker's grounder with one out in the bottom of the seventh that allowed Kiera Foster to score from second base.
Ridgeland got a run in the first inning of the second game, then in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings they scored four, three and seven runs. Wood said he thought some nervousness may have played a role with the offense being held down in the first game, but the Lady Panthers looked far more relaxed as play went on.
Foster paced Ridgeland on the day, going 7-for-8. She was 4-for-4 in the second game and was hit by a pitch, drove in three runs, including a two-run triple, and she scored three times.
"She was definitely hitting some shots," Wood said.
Crawford, the Lady Panthers' cleanup batter, had an interesting day. She was walked in her first eight plate appearances and saw one strike.
Her last at-bat was with the bases loaded and two outs and in a situation where if she walked it would push across a run that would give Ridgeland a 10-run lead - enough at the time to win by mercy rule provided it kept Madison County from scoring in its next at-bat.
After a pitch in the dirt, Crawford got one to her liking and sent it out in straight-away center field for a grand slam.
"I knew she was probably going to throw me a strike with it being bases loaded and two outs," Crawford said. "I figured they would try to get me out. I was ready that time."
Leadoff batter Haley Sandridge sparked the offense in the second game, scoring four runs. She ended the day 4-for-8, including two doubles, and walked once.
Allison Wallin was the winning pitcher in the second game. She allowed six singles - three in the infield - and an unearned run. She walked one and struck out three.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.