Bryson City – The Lady Devils tough week continued on Thursday. In a week that featured Swain facing 1st place Robbinsville on Monday, 2nd place Murphy on Tuesday, they finished the week and regular season by hosting 2nd place Hiwassee Dam on Thursday. On top of that the Devils had to add a makeup game with Rosman, whom they were tied with for 4th place, to the back end of the game with Hiwassee, giving the Lady Devils a difficult double header.
In game one the Lady Devils gave up 5 runs in the 5th inning to fall behind 8-0. They rallied for a pair of runs in the 6th but could not get in closer, dropping a 8-2 decision to Hiwassee. Ashton Younce and Grace Cabe drove in the Lady Devils pair of runs. Cabe, Younce, Kendall Bowers, Alyssa Haymond and Stacey Griggs accounted for Swain’s 5 hits. Griggs picked up the loss in the circle, giving up only 4 earned runs over 5 innings of work.
The nightcap saw the Lady Devils rally for 3 runs in the 4th and they added another 4 in the 5th inning on their way to an 8-4 win over Rosman. The two teams were tied at 1 after the 1st inning. Rosman took the lead in the 3rd by plating a run. Then Swain’s bats came alive in the 4th, as they took the lead for good.
Kyndle Jones and Stacey Griggs drew back-to-back two out walks, both would score one batter later when Alyssa Haymond roped a double to right centerfield. Ashton Younce followed with a single that would score Haymond, giving Swain a 4-2 lead.
Kendall Bowers opened the 5th inning with a single. Bowers advanced all the way to third on a Grace Cabe bunt single, and scored on a throwing error that allowed Cabe to reach third. Kenzie Eagleman scored Cabe with a deep fly ball to right field. Shayne Catolster singled, and Kele Eagleman running for Catolster, advanced to third when Alissa Smith’s hustle to 1st base on a ground ball forced a Rosman error allowing her to reach safely. Kyndle Jones then cleared the bases with a double to deep right field.
Cabe would finish game 3-3 with a run scored and stolen base. Kenzie Eagleman went 2-3 and scored a run as well as driving in a run. Jones and Haymond finished with a pair of rbi each.
In the circle Stacey Griggs pitched 4-innings and picked up the win. Kenzie Eagleman earned her first save of the year by working 3 innings in relief of Griggs.
With the win the Lady Devils wrapped up 4th place in the Smoky Mountain Conference, finishing the season with an 11-8 overall record.