Following two days of postponed games due to rain, the Murphy and Hiwassee Dam softball teams got to play the first game in their series Thursday afternoon. Friday’s game was also postponed and was played Monday.
Both teams were itching to hit the field after their first matchup – scheduled for April 22 – was postponed until they finally got to play Thursday in Murphy.
It was a close battle with neither team leading by more than one run and ended in a walk-off.
The Lady Eagles got on the board first in the top of the third inning. Abby Harris reached first base on a bunt, then stole second and third on two different wild pitches during the next at bat. Harris scored the opening run of the game on a sacrifice fly to right field by Olivia McNabb.
The Lady Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when Julia Dockery hit an RBI single to score Piper Dalton to make it 1-1.
In the top of the fifth, Olivia McNabb scored from third base on a sacrifice ground ball by Sky Taylor for the Lady Eagles to regain the lead.
Dockery tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when she scored from third base on a ground ball.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Lady Eagles couldn’t score, which gave the Lady Dogs a chance to walk it off and win.
With two outs, Piper Dalton singled to score Emma Hensley to get the Lady Dogs the 3-2 win.
Fans were also treated to the pitching dual between Murphy’s Paisley Johnson and Hiwassee Dam’s Olivia McNabb. McNabb gave up three runs on four hits, walked four and struck out eight Lady Bulldog batters. Johnson gave up two runs on three hits, had no walks and struck out 15 Lady Eagles. McNabb threw 119 pitches and Johnson threw 108 in the seven-inning contest.
After Friday’s scheduled meeting in Hiwassee Dam was postponed due to more rain, they met on Monday for their second matchup of the season.
It was once again a low-scoring pitching battle between Olivia McNabb of Hiwassee Dam and Johnson of Murphy.
The Lady Eagles got the win in their second meeting. The Lady Eagles fought to a 1-0 win to split the series.
The lone Lady Eagles run came on a home run from pitcher Olivia McNabb. This was were third homer of the season. McNabb’s home run came in the bottom of the first with one out. Once they got the lead, they battled with the Lady Dogs to keep it at 1-0.
Both McNabb and Johnson pitched compete games, like in their first meeting Thursday.
Johnson gave up one run on one hit, which was McNabb’s home run. She also walked four batters and struck out eight in her seven-inning, 87-pitch outing.
In their loss, the Lady Dogs got three hits as Jenna Cook, Aiden Smith and Laney got on base. The Lady Dog’s couldn’t rally to score and break Hiwassee Dam’s one-run lead.
With the win, the Lady Eagles snapped a two-game losing streak.
Up next
Both teams close to the regular season this week with important conference games. Murphy will host Cherokee at 6 p.m. today. Then Murphy will face Hayesville at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at home to wrap up the regular season.
Hiwassee Dam is scheduled to play a doubleheader on the road against Tellico Plains, Tenn., starting at
5 p.m. On Thursday, they will face Andrews on the road at 4:30 p.m.
Softball playoff seeding is Monday and the first round will be played Tuesday.