The Greenbrier East Lady Spartans ran their winning streak to 11 games on Thursday night, April 20 after going on the road and defeating the Princeton Lady Tigers 8-4.
Josi Ervin, Lindsey Black and Taylor Boswell combined to go 8-12 with six runs scored and two RBIs, and Lily Carola struck out 12 to lift the Spartans to the win.
The tone was set in the first inning, and it took the Tigers by surprise. Ervin led off the game with a single, then two batters later, Boswell hit a deep home run that gave East a 2-0 lead. After an Alanis McClary double, Olivia Plybon brought her home with a base hit and the Spartans held a 3-0 lead after one frame.
Ervin scored on an error in the second on a Boswell fly ball and the Spartans moved out to a 4-0 lead at that point.
After the Tigers had cut the score to 4-1, East (15-2) extended their big lead in the fifth inning.
Black, Boswell and McClary singled which scored a run, and Plybon grounded out, but drove in Boswell. Then, Gracie Gumm’s RBI single scored McClary and the Spartans held a commanding 7-1 lead after five.
Princeton (11-10) picked up three runs in the bottom half of the sixth, but Carola retired the Tigers side in order in the seventh and the Spartans held on for a crucial win.
East pounded out 14 hits and was led by Ervin’s 4-5, two runs performance. Black (2-3, two runs), Boswell (2-4, HR, two runs, two RBIs) McClary (2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) and Gumm (2-4, RBI) all hit well.
Carola threw a complete game with 12 strikeouts and gave up just four hits.
The Lady Spartans will return home tonight, Friday, April 21 for a battle with Oak Hill.
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