NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — Madison Corbin pitched nine strong innings and her teammates produced a five-run ninth inning as East Fairmont advanced to the Class AA regionals with an 8-6 win at Oak Glen.
The Bees won the ‘sectional championship series’ two games to one. Class AA, Region 1, Section 2 is the only sectional tournament in the state where every round is a best-of-three series.
Only two of the six runs Corbin allowed were earned. She scattered nine hits while walking four and striking out six batters. “That’s Madison,” said East Fairmont head coach Steve Swiger. “That’s what she does. She trusts her defense and she is just good.”
East jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Alexandria Nichols clubbed a two-run double off the fence in left center. The Golden Bears answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame when a throwing error with the bases loaded allowed three runs to score.
The Bees drew even in the sixth when Kierra Bartholow scored on a squeeze bunt by Kinsey Hershberger. The game went to extra innings tied 3-3.
A five-run, four-hit ninth inning gave East an 8-3 lead. Faith Gaines, Tori Lambert and Nuzum all drove in runs in that frame.
“A lot of confidence going up there for those girls (in the ninth inning),” Swiger said. “We had good at bats all game.”
Oak Glen sparked a rally in the bottom of the inning when Alexa Andrews drove home two runs with a triple off the fence in right center. But Corbin collected the next three outs to close out the game.
Madison McKay went the distance in the circle for the Golden Bears. She allowed twelve hits, walked three and struck out twelve batters. Lambert and Bartholow each had multi-hit games for the Bees. Andrews and Aidan Hall did the same for the Golden Bears.
East Fairmont (19-7) will face either Petersburg, Frankfort or Keyser in the Class AA, Region 1 best-of-three regional tournament next week. “I really like our chances,” Swiger said. “We are playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
Oak Glen’s season ends with a record of 20-9.