Softball -- Thornton solid in ECC contest

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 9, 2004 1:58 PM

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DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne's Karen Thornton yielded just one run in seven innings of work on the mound as the Saints emerged with a tough, 2-1 win at home over Kinston on Thursday.

The win improved the Saints (6-5) to 4-3 in the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference heading into spring break.

"Karen has been pitching excellent for us. More than I can even ask for," Southern Wayne coach Brad Matthews said.

The Saints got a handful of breaks in the game as Dominique Williams came all the way around from first to score in the bottom of the sixth on an errant pick-off throw to first by the Kinston catcher.

Trailing 2-1, Kinston loaded the bases with one out in the seventh before Thornton recorded the second out with a strikeout. Then, the Vikings' runner at third got caught in a run-down and made the final out of the game at the plate.

"It was a nail-biter. It went down to whoever made the biggest mistake last," Matthews said.

On Wednesday, Southern Wayne dropped a 10-0 contest at home against D.H. Conley, currently ranked third among 4-A teams in the latest ihigh.com coaches/media softball poll.

Thornton and Rachel Reynolds got the only two hits off of Conley in the loss.

Southern Wayne will participate in the D.H. Conley Easter Tournament at the Sara Law Softball Complex in Greenville, beginning April 17. The Saints have three games that day, facing East Wake at noon, J.H. Rose at 4 p.m. and South Central at 8 p.m.

Kinston 000 100 0 -- 1 4 3

S. Wayne 000 002 x -- 2 3 2

Leading hitters -- Kinston -- Kim Dixon 1-3, 2B, RBI. Southern Wayne -- Dominique Williams 2-3; Scarlett Joyner 1-3.

IP H R ER BB SO

Kinston

Davis (L) 6 3 2 0 2 0

Southern Wayne

Thornton (W) 7 4 1 1 4 6