(Photo gallery by Teran Malone)
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Trailing 9-4 after five innings and by three runs entering the seventh, University had its work cut out against Greenbrier East in the Class AAA state tournament opener at The Rock.
The Hawks offense then delivered in a major way, scoring five runs in their final at bat, including a bases-clearing triple from Carley Voithofer that made all the difference in an 11-9 victory against the Spartans.
Voithofer, who entered as a pinch-hitter for Olivia Masoner, earlier in the game, finished 2-for-2 and drove in five runs to help put the Hawks in the winner’s bracket.
Until Voithofer’s bases-clearing triple, the only University (23-9) lead was at 2-1 in the middle of the fourth, and Greenbrier East (21-10) immediately answered with four runs in the bottom of that inning to go back in front.
Bri Royce added three hits in the win, while Adalyn Brown and Maddie Campbell had one hit and scored twice.
Each team finished with 12 hits.
Sophia Lehosit was credited with the win after allowing six hits and four runs in 3 2/3 innings. All four runs were unearned.
Campbell also pitched in the victory and was tagged with five runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Kayla Bartley threw seven innings in defeat and struck out seven with a pair of base-on-balls.
The Spartans’ Taylor Boswell and Lily Carola each accounted for a home run.
Boswell finished 2-for-4, scored twice and drove in three runs, while Carola had four RBI.
Alanis McClary added three hits in defeat.