2A-NORTH REGION SOFTBALL

Tuckerman rallies by Rector

LEPANTO -- Tuckerman advanced to the regional finals with a 10-9 come-from-behind victory Saturday over Rector.

The Lady Bulldogs (21-5) started the seventh inning facing a 9-5 deficit.

Nine batters came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Jodie Lucas provided the final blow, knocking in Hailey Clark with the game-winner. Brigitte Manuel, Shelby Gardner, Sydney Sutherland, Katelyn Jackson and Clark all crossed the plate in the decisive seventh.

"We started off pretty slow as Rector hit the ball well and we didn't," Tuckerman Coach Matt Dillon said. "I knew if we could keep the game close that we could turn the bats on. The last couple of innings we started frustrating their pitcher and she helped us a bit with some walks and we came up with some big hits."

Manuel, Gardner and Jackson all scored two runs each for Tuckerman while Clark and Hannah Dilday were 2 for 4 at the plate. Gardner was 2 for 2 and drew 2 walks.

"Making the regional championship is an awesome feeling," Dillon said. "Especially winning like that. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Katelyn Platt earned the victory for Tuckerman despite allowing 9 runs on 12 hits while striking out 6 and walking 1. Johnna Lopez took the loss for Rector allowing 10 runs on 8 hits to go with 8 walks and 1 strikeout.

"We put the ball in the zone and they hit it," Dillon said. "We were behind in some counts and had to throw them some good pitches. They scored nine on us but we held them there for two or three innings. Our pitcher is a freshman and she really gutted it out, getting 1-2-3 in the sixth and the seventh and gave us a chance to get some runs."

Despite the nine runs Rector only scored once in the last four innings. Rector's Brittany Fair scored twice while going 2 for 4 at the plate. Colby Lynch and Kendall Gunn also went 2 of 4 for the Lady Cougars.

BUFFALO ISLAND 5, MARMADUKE 2

Buffalo Island Central fell behind 1-0 after an inning before scoring twice in the top of the second and one each in the third, sixth and seventh to knock off Marmaduke in the other semifinal.

Lexie Ray scored twice for the Lady Mustangs and went 1 for 3 at the plate. Karo Thomas, Catherine Colbert and Hannah Poe all scored for Buffalo Island. Madison Greathouse gave up 2 runs while striking out 2 and allowing 7 hits in the complete-game victory for the Lady Mustangs.

April Kennedy and Brittany Banning provided the only runs of the game for Marmaduke. Tiffany Traywick took the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out none.

Sports on 05/11/2014

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