VIENNA, W.Va. — Defending Class AAA state champion Hurricane kept charging toward a repeat, downing Ripley 3-0 Wednesday night to secure another trip to the West Virginia softball title game.
“We’re in a good position, but we’ve still got to come out and play well tomorrow,“ said coach Josh Caldwell, whose Redskins (33-4) have won 12 consecutive games.
Madison Hebb doubled ahead of Morehead State signee Paige Scruggs’ homer in the fourth inning.
“I think it was a changeup,” Scruggs said. “I just stayed back, did my 1-2 count and there it was. Coach told us to watch for it and that’s what she threw me.”
Hebb doubled again in the sixth and made it 3-0 on Taylor McCray’s bloop single.
Katie Adams scattered six hits in the shutout, getting seventh-inning help when Scruggs made a diving catch along the left-field foul line.
Ripley (30-4) must beat Wheeling Park on Thursday morning to earn a championship-round rematch against the Redskins.
“Hurricane has a lot of good hitters and it’s hard to get through their lineup without someone smacking one,” said Vikings coach Kenny Swisher. “We’ve got three pitchers, so I think we can mix it up and maybe make it through and challenge them again.”
Wheeling Park 6, Musselman 2: While the Patriots (19-12) survived an elimination game, it was a two-and-out day for Musselman (29-5), which entered the tournament on a 12-game winning streak.
Hurricane 3, Wheeling Park 0: Katie Adams delivered a gritty shutout, pitching around eight baserunners, and the Redskins made a three-run third inning stand up.
Caitlin Mathes was 3-for 4 for Hurricane, which beat the Patriots 14-4 in April.
Ripley 2, Musselman 1 (9): Hailey Carte’s ninth-inning, two-out liner rolled under the glove of Musselman shortstop Emma Hull for an infield single that put the Vikings ahead.
Ripley right-hander Darby Petersen, who struck out eight, escaped a two-on jam in the bottom of the ninth to seal the extra-innings victory.
Musselman’s Sabrina Shroades was the tough-luck loser. She fanned 15 but was undone by two ninth-inning errors that set up the winning run.