Bryson City – For the Lady Devils Wednesday was a tale of two separate games. The first saw a listless and sloppy Swain squad give up 6 runs with 2 outs in the 2nd inning to fall behind eventually 7-0 through the first 3 and half innings. Then the second saw the Lady Devils spring to life outscoring visiting Smoky Mountain 8-2 over the final four innings. In the end though the hole the Lady Devils dug was two deep to get out of despite their resilient effort. Smoky came away with a 9-8 win in extra innings.
The Lady Devils trailed 8-6 heading into the bottom of the 7th. Senior outfielder Kyndle Jones provided some 2 out heroics and force a tie for Swain. Shayne Catolster coaxed a 1 out walk and advanced to 2nd one batter later when Alissa Smith singled to left. One out later Jones laced a line drive into deep left field to score both Catolster and Smith and tie the game.
Swain scored their first run in the bottom of the 4th. Sophomore Kenzie Eagleman led off the inning with a solo shot to deep centerfield, it was her 3rd home run of the season and cut the Mustang lead to 7-1.
Swain would strike again in the bottom of the 5th, this time plating 5 runs to pull within 2 runs at 8-6. Sophomore Ashton Younce started the inning with a solid single to right. Kendall Bowers followed with a infield hit of her own, an alert Younce advanced all the way to third while the Mustangs argued the call at first on Bowers. Younce would score and Bowers advanced to second on an illegal pitch call. Bowers advanced to 3rd on a stolen base and scored on an Kenzie Eagleman infield hit.
Eagleman would be forced at 2nd on a Shayne Catolster grounder. Alissa Smith followed with a single, giving Swain runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Freshman Stacey Griggs homered to left scoring 3 more Swain runs. It was Griggs’ first career home run and came on a 2-2 pitch.
Griggs, Smith and Eagleman all had a pair of hits each. Catolster and Smith each scored a pair of runs. Griggs had 3 rbi, while Kyndle Jones and Eagleman had a pair of rbi each.
Swain returns to conference play next week with a trio of games slated, all on the road.