Wilson Hunt shocks C.B. Aycock softball

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on April 20, 2008 1:30 PM

• Print
• Email

PIKEVILLE -- Wilson Hunt snuffed out Charles B. Aycock's seventh-inning rally and emerged victorious 4-3 on the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference softball scene Friday evening.

Late-inning errors haunted the Golden Falcons, who attempted to erase a three-run deficit in their final at-bat.

"We had a few innings there where we didn't look like we were into it," Falcon coach Brad Mathews said. "We can not wait until the last inning to decide that we need to play."

Aycock began the senior day showdown strong, taking an early 1-0 lead on Leigh Smith's RBI single. However, missed opportunities and stranded runners marred the opening three innings for the Golden Falcons.

Wilson Hunt stormed back in the fourth when catcher Amber Parrish belted a tape-measure home run over the fence in right-center field. The bomb tied the game and seemingly took the air out of C.B. Aycock.

"That shot turned the game around for us," said Warriors' head coach Riley Hurdle. "We got the momentum and that ended up being big."

The Warriors seized the lead in the sixth inning.

Caroline Moody drew a lead-off walk and moved into scoring position on Lauren Langley's sharp hit, which was mishandled by Aycock's outfielders. Two batters later, Parrish delivered a two-RBI single.

Hunt added a crucial insurance run in the seventh. Moody reached on an error, stole second and third, and scored on Langley's single.

"We were really fortunate to manufacture that last run," Hurdle said. "The credit for that goes completely to Caroline. She took second and then decided she could delay-steal third, and it worked out for us."

Down to its final out, Aycock rallied in the seventh.

Torie Benton connected a single to keep the Falcons alive. Smith followed with her third single of the game. Stevie Savage rejuvenated the Aycock crowd one pitch later as she ripped a two-RBI double into the gap. Both Benton and Smith scored, and Savage -- the game-tying run -- stood on second base.

Following a mound visit from Hurdle, Warrior hurler Jessica Mayo took a visibly deep breath and worked to Cara Frederick. The Aycock shortstop hit a grounder up the middle that was bobbled, but eventually thrown to first for the final out.

"As we move forward, we need to start the game like we're behind and come out with the intensity that we showed tonight in the seventh inning," Mathews said.

Aycock (14-4 overall) fell to 5-2 in the ECC.