Bryson City – Heading into the bottom of the 7th inning the Lady Devils trailed Murphy 6-2. Swain scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game and then won the game in the bottom of the 8th.
Murphy scored 4 times in the 3rd inning and added another run in the 5th to build a 5-1 lead over the Devils.
In the bottom of the 5th Swain rallied with a run of their own to cut the lead to 5-2. With 2 outs junior outfielder Erin Jenkins singled and scored from first on Sydney Call’s double to left centerfield.
In the top of the 7th Murphy added an insurance run to push the score to 6-2.
The bottom of the 7th turned the game into a thriller. Facing defeat the Lady Devils rallied. With 1 out it was Jenkins who again struck, this time with the longest shot of her career. Jenkins, the Lady Devils slap hitter, laced her first career triple to deep right center field. The Jenkins hit fired up the Lady Devils, as Sydney Call followed with a solid single to score Jenkins and pull Swain to within 3 at 6-3.
Following a fly out the Lady Devils were down to their final out. Bryar Buchanan responded with a single to left moving Call to second. Then Alissa Smith singled to score Call and bring the Lady Devils to within 2 runs at 6-4.
Junior 3rd baseman Gabby Jones, came through with clutch double to left centerfield scoring both Buchanan and Smith to tie the game at 6. Swain was unable to score Jones and the game headed to extra innings.
To open the bottom of the 8th junior catcher Callyn Brown flew out to centerfield. Grace Cabe coaxed a walk. Erin Jenkins followed with an infield single. Sydney Call singled to load the bases for the Lady Devils.
With 1 out, sophomore 1st baseman Shayne Catolster became the hero. Catolster grounded a 1-1 pitch to 2nd base scoring Cabe from third with the winning run.
Junior Sydney Call finished the game 4-5 with 2 rbi and 2 runs scored, while Erin Jenkins was 3-5 with 2 runs scored. Shayne Catolster, Alissa Smith, and Gabby Jones had 2 hits each in the win.
In the circle Taylor Day went the distance earning the win. Day gave up 9 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out 10 and walking none.