Mooresville finds winning formula to sweep softball series with rival Lake Norman
MOORESVILLE - Starting fast and finishing strong, Mooresville defeated host Lake Norman 11-4 in Tuesday night's North Piedmont Conference game.
Gracelyn Thompson, Gabriella Place and Kara Landi each drove in a run in the first inning and, leading 3-0, Mooresville never looked back.
With the victory, the Blue Devils (13-6, 6-3) completed the sweep over their crosstown rival. They won the first meeting 3-2 on March 27.
Key defensive play
The Wildcats (10-11, 4-5) suffered their fifth straight loss, but they looked poised to, at the very least, tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Trailing, 4-2, Lake Norman had runners at second and third base with no outs after Olivia Wolf and Jordin Jacoby paired singles to begin the frame.
Stella Salazar laid down a sacrifice bunt. Mooresville relief pitcher Lyric Dulin fielded it. She faked a throw to first base then tossed the ball to Place, her catcher. They caught Wolf in a rundown for the first out. Third baseman Alexandra Amon applied the tag.
Then Dulin got Colbie Harmon to fly out before striking out Ava Tilley to end the threat. The clutch play to get the rundown got it started.
"She's just one of those kids when she's on the ballfield, she's got a really good IQ," Mooresville coach Scotty Evernham said of Dulin. "She really understands the game, and she's always just thinking a play ahead.
"Definitely a huge play. Definitely a huge turning point, because it took the wind out of their sails."
Knockout punch
Capitalizing on the momentum gained to close the sixth inning, the Blue Devils batted around their lineup in the top of the seventh, scoring seven runs on three hits.
A two-run lead, "I didn't feel like was enough," Evernham said. "They took the challenge, and they separated."
Kelsey Fliss highlighted the scoring outburst with her three-run homer to left-center. The freshman center fielder struck out in her first three at-bats but finished with two hits and a game-high four RBIs.
"We reiterate it day in and day out: next play mentality," Evernham said. "That's just the perfect example of them buying into the culture. Kelsey knows what kind of ball player she is and that any moment she can turn a game around. As long as we keep that mentality as a team, the sky is the limit for us."
Other notables
Mooresville's Lauren Spencer finished with three hits. Thompson provided two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Cecelia Castles picked up two hits, including a double.
Landi recorded a couple of hits and RBIs for the Blue Devils. She also made two challenging catches in left field, diving for the last out of the third inning and catching a well-struck ball to the wall in fifth inning.
"Kara is one of those girls when the ball gets hit to left field you're pretty comfortable," Evernham said. "You know that she's going to make the play and get it done. She's only a junior so we get her for another year next year, and she's just going to continue to grow."
Avery Evans, Wolf and Jacoby each supplied two hits for Lake Norman. Evans and Jacoby had one RBI apiece.
Harmon struck out seven and, aided by her defense, held the Blue Devils at bay during innings two through six.
In a battle of freshmen hurlers, Jaycee Small earned the win. She worked five innings in the pitcher's circle, holding the Wildcats to two runs on two hits and four walks. Small struck out three.
"For a freshman to pitch in a game like that and compete, super proud of her," Evernham said. "She hit her spots, commanded the zone. It just shows what a bright future she's got coming up."
Up next
Mooresville hosts NPC regular-season champion South Iredell (16-5, 8-1) on Friday in the final game of the regular season. The Vikings won the first meeting, 10-3.
Lake Norman visits nonconference foe Alexander Central on Wednesday before concluding the regular season at home Friday against NPC last-place Statesville.
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