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The Rockbridge County High School softball team won both games of a doubleheader against local rival Parry McCluer on Wednesday evening in Lexington, claiming the first game 11-0 and battling for a 3-2 win in the second game.
The second game came down to the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Wildcats’ lone senior, Marla Zollman, bringing home Gabriella Brown for the winning run by hitting a single on a grounder to left field.
Earlier in the game, Zollman, who led all players with four hits, belted a solo home run over the left field fence in the first inning. The Wildcats (5-11) then extended their lead to 2-0 when Parker Dameron singled on a grounder to center field to drive in Page Wright.
The score remained 2-0 through the first six innings, with the Wildcats allowing just one hit, a single from PM’s Autumn Mundy in the first.
After RC sophomore pitcher Sadie Moore threw two strikeouts in the top of the seventh, the Blues (7-7) got their offense going. PM’s Olivia Julian doubled to center field, and Victoria Hamilton brought her home with a double on a fly ball to left field, cutting RC’s lead to 2-1.
PM then tied the game 2-2 when Gracey Shafer singled on a grounder to right field to drive in Hamilton. Kendall Painter then singled on a grounder, but the Wildcats made the third out with a groundout at first.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Brown singled on a bunt, and Bella Dorey walked, setting up Zollman to drive in the winning run.
RC recorded eight hits, while PM had four.
On the mound, Moore pitched a complete game for RC, striking out eight while allowing no walks.
For PM, junior Alysa Wheeler pitched a complete game, striking out two and surrendering one walk.
The Blues committed two errors, while the Wildcats had one.
The first game originally began on April 1 at PM, but it was stopped in the top of the fifth inning due to lighting, with the Wildcats (5-11) leading 6-0.
After play resumed on Wednesday, RC added two runs in the sixth when Parker Dameron singled on a grounder to bring home Wright and Zollman.
The Wildcats scored their final three runs in the seventh. Zollman singled on a fly ball to drive in Willow Rogers, Moore singled on a grounder to bring home Brooklyn Beverley, and Dameron hit a grounder to right field to drive in Zollman.
Pitching a complete game, Moore struck out nine while allowing two hits and two walks.
Julian pitched for the Blues on April 1, but she played first base on Wednesday due to an injury, and Wheeler completed the game.
The Wildcats will return to Valley District action when they play at William Monroe on Friday at 6 p.m. The Blues are scheduled to face Eastern Montgomery for the Pioneer District regular-season title on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at James River High School in Buchanan. Check back here for weather-related schedule changes.
For the full stories on this week’s action, with photos from Wednesday’s game, please see our May 15 newspaper.
