MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Central’s softball team got off to a similar start in Wednesday’s losers-bracket game against Greenbrier as it did in Tuesday’s TSSAA Class AA state-tournament opener against Covington. The difference this time, it came back and won.
The Lady Purple Pounders defeated Greenbrier 5-2 at Starplex No. 2 after trailing 2-0 early.
Central (28-11) plays again today at approximately 1 p.m. EDT against either Westview or Camden.
The Lady Pounders lost 2-0 to Covington in their first game. Throwing the ball away led to the Lady Chargers’ first run. A throwing error that Nina Dever on a pickoff attempt at third led to Dever scoring the first run for Greenbrier.
Central scored all of its runs in the fifth inning. Ciera Belcher’s infield single got things started. She scored when Dewana Posely beat out an infield hit.
Brook Womack’s bases-loaded extra-base hit down the left-field line drove in the tying and go-ahead runs. Posely would’ve easily scored from first but the ball rolled through a small opening beside the temporary fence and was called a ground-rule double.
“I was just looking for an inside pitch to drill it,” Womack said. “We all stayed up and everyone was cheering for everybody. We knew we had to fight back and we did it.”
Shelby Willard’s single through the middle drove in the fourth run and Jade Stoker’s single off the tip of the pitcher’s glove brought in the final run.
“We knew that we could win,” Central coach LeeAnne Shurette said. “I don’t think they ever give up. They always think they’ve got a chance. Today it was just a matter of getting that spark. Ciera getting on base to lead off, that was important. Then the next four or five did something.”
Helping the Lady Pounders’ confidence in knowing they’ve got Shelby Willard in the pitching circle. She gave up seven hits to the Lady Cats and hit one. She did not surrender another walk after putting Dever aboard in the first and she totaled seven strikeouts.
“We feel pretty confident,” Womack said. “As long as we keep hitting like we have been I believe we’re going to be all right.”