FAIRLEA, WV- In the top half of the first inning in game one of the regional championship series on Wednesday night, May 17, the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans officially committed three errors, did not look like themselves and trailed 1-0 as fast as the game started.
Then, they woke up.
East scored the next six runs of the game, overcame an angry party of Patriot cowbells, held off a slight late rally from the Patriots, and beat George Washington to take an important 1-0 series lead.
“It’s definitely stress relieving in a way, but it doesn’t mean we lay down,” Jo. Ervin said after the game when asked about the importance of winning game one.
“They are a good team and will come out strong tomorrow, so we just have to play our game,” she added.
After the sloppy first inning, that did include a nice diving catch in right field from Hailey Ervin, the Spartans came to the plate in the bottom half and redeemed themselves. Taylor Boswell reached base on an error and then advanced to second three pitches later. Lily Carola then singled just under the first baseman’s glove and Boswell came home to score, and the Spartans tied the game at 1-all.
Josi Ervin settled herself down in the second and struck out all three Patriot batters in order to keep all the momentum on the East side.
Gracie Gumm got plunked by the ball to led off the second, then Jenna Groves sacrificed her over with a beautiful bunt. Next up was Ha. Ervin who doubled in Gumm and East took a 2-1 lead. Lindsey Black followed with an RBI single and then she scored on a Taylor Boswell base hit while the Patriots made a wild throw back to the infield. After two, the Spartans led 4-1 and the huge crowd on hand that lined the left field fence, was going wild.
George Washington’s Alexis Adkins doubled to start the third, but Jo. Ervin calmly sat the next three batters down, and East got out of the frame unscathed.
All action took a short break, that is util the bottom of the fourth inning. Jo. Ervin launched a one-out solo home run to center field, her first of the year, then Boswell doubled off the wall following a walk to Black. Boswell came across to score a couple baters later on an error, and the Spartans held a commanding 6-1 lead.
“She threw me a good pitch and I took it. It felt good coming off my bat,” Jo. Ervin said.
With the score 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the Spartans got the run back, and more. Black plated Jo. Ervin on a double, and East led 7-2. Gumm laced an RBI single later in the inning after Boswell scored on an error, and East took complete control of the game and led 9-2.
The Patriots put up a good fight in the seventh and scored three runs that included a 2-run homer from Adkins. The frame was harmless tonight but could give the Pats some unwanted confidence if you’re the Spartans.
“It’s so important,” Jo. Ervin exclaimed about the importance of game two.
“We can be the first team in school history to go to state and getting the ‘W’ tomorrow will be huge. Not having to go three games would be great,” she said.
East had 12 hits. Boswell (3-4, 3 runs), Black (2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) and Carola (2-4, RBI) had seven of them. Jo. Ervin (1-3, HR, 2 runs, RBI), Gumm (1-3, run, RBI) and Ha. Ervin (1-3, run, RBI) also contributed.
Jo. Ervin was solid on the mound. She went seven innings, allowed seven hits, four earned runs and struck out six.
Adkins and Passion Holley each went 2-4 for GW.
Game two will be played at George Washington on Thursday, May 18 at 6:00 PM.
“It was very important to win the first game because we needed momentum going down there because the atmosphere is just different,” Boswell said.
The Spartans lead the best-of-three series 1-0.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.