MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Grace Academy earned its first berth in a state softball final Thursday when the Lady Golden Eagles beat South Fulton 5-0 at Starplex No. 4 in the TSSAA Class A winners-bracket final.
Grace (33-6) will play in today’s final at 6:30 p.m. EDT against the winner of this morning’s losers-bracket final between South Fulton and Trinity Christian.
A three-run first inning was the tonic the Lady Golden Eagles needed. From there it was loading up behind junior left-hander Lacye Walker, who pitched a three-hitter.
“For us it’s huge to jump out in front of people,” Grace coach Tina Walker said. “That settles our nerves.”
South Fulton did not get a runner into scoring positioned until the fifth inning.
“Lacye got a little tired,” Coach Walker said. “She’s pitched every game.”
The younger Walker, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles, also got hit by a pitch on her pitching arm in the sixth. Her mother and coach said she expects her daughter to be all right.
Coach Walker is expecting to again be facing Trinity, winner of three of the last four state titles and the team the Lady Golden Eagles beat 1-0 in their tournament opener.
“We’re in a great situation, but we’re not taking Trinity lightly,” the coach said. “They have an awesome team.”
Bethany Cowart contributed two singles and an RBI against South Fulton.