Lady Wolves Dominate Vikings in National Tournament

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Co-Lin Softball team continued their time in the NJCAA DII Softball World Series with a winner's bracket game against St. John's River State College on Thursday, May 21. The Lady Wolves used explosive offense and a stifling defense and pitching performance to dominate the Vikings for a 10-2 victory.

The Lady Wolves got on the board early with three runs in the bottom of the first as Ayari VanBlaircom (Daphne, AL) hit a leadoff single to get the offense started. Later in the inning, VanBlaircom scored on an RBI-triple by Emilie Williams (Summit) to give the Lady Wolves a 1-0 lead. Williams later scored on a throwing error to increase the lead to 2-0. Annie Poole (Brookhaven) then crushed a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left field for a solo home run, her 14th of the season, extending the lead to 3-0.

After a scoreless second inning, the Lady Wolves added a run in the bottom of the third as Brelie Phillips (Conehatta) hit a leadoff single but was then forced out as Williams reached on a fielder's choice. Morgan Chisolm (Madison) then reached on a fielder's choice, but Williams was safe at second after an error on the play. Both runners then advanced on a passed ball while Williams scored after a throwing error on the play making the score, 4-0.

The Vikings scored a run in the top of the fourth, but the Lady Wolves threw out a potential second run at home to end the inning with the score standing at 4-1. The Lady Wolves then responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning as Noelle Laiche launched a 1-2 pitch over the fence in centerfield for a solo home run, her fourth of the season, increased the led to 5-1. VanBlaircom then followed with a triple while Phillips and Williams drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out. Chisolm then hit a two-RBI single scoring VanBlaircom and Phillips while Poole followed with an RBI-single scoring Williams and extending the lead to 8-1. After Chisolm scored on a wild pitch and Poole took third on the play, Abby Burnette (Brookhaven) drew a walk and stole second, while Stella Roberts hit a sacrifice fly scoring Poole and pushing the lead to 10-1.

In the top of the fifth, the Vikings went flyout, solo home run, strikeout, lineout to secure the 10-2 victory for the Lady Wolves.

The Lady Wolves totaled eight hits as Ayari VanBlaircom and Annie Poole led the way with two hits apiece while Brelie Phillips, Emilie Williams, Morgan Chisolm, and Noelle Laiche had one hit each. Chisolm and Poole led the Lady Wolves in RBIs with two apiece while Williams, Laiche, and Stella Roberts had one RBI each.

Addison Lindley (Madison) went the distance and improved to 25-3, tying the single season wins record, while two earned runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Co-Lin improves to 50-5 overall setting a new program record for single season wins and will face off against Murray State College in the winner's bracket. First pitch between the Lady Wolves and the Lady Aggies is set for 1:30 p.m., eastern time, in Spartanburg.