Orange softball regains Big 8 lead after extra-innings win against Northwood
The Northwood and Orange softball teams appeared locked into a second pitchers’ duel within 48 hours until a slugfest suddenly broke out last Friday.
Starting with Orange’s Mia Davidson breaking up a scoreless game with her 14th home run in the third inning, the Panthers survived with a 5-4 win in nine innings at home over the Chargers.
Orange’s win avenged a 3-0 loss Wednesday when the Panthers were no-hit by Northwood’s UNC-Pembroke-bound Anna Jasper. With the crucial Big 8 3A Conference win, Orange (16-1, 6-1) regained the conference lead over the Chargers (12-2, 6-2).
Jasper was bidding for her second straight no-hitter until Davidson came to the plate in bottom of the third with one out. The junior catcher connected for a towering solo home run that sailed high above and long beyond the scoreboard directly behind the left-field fence at the 200-foot mark.
“I was thinking if she gives me something I’m taking it,” Davidson said. “I’ve hit a couple (of long ones) like that, but I don’t know about that far.”
Davidson otherwise was walked three times and hit by a pitch. She was walked to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth. Jasper, who struck out 17 batters for the night, might have been tiring at that point as she walked Olivia Ruff to bring home the winning run.
“I was thinking of taking her out,” Northwood coach Butch Edenfield said, “but she pitched a great game for us.”
Turning point
Take your pick on turning points, but don’t overlook Northwood rallying from a 4-1deficit with two runs in the fourth and UNC-Wilmington bound Carson Shaney’s solo home run to tie the score a 4-4 in the fifth. The Chargers could have folded once Orange had scored three more runs in the third inning following Davidson’s homer.
Three to know
Kristina Givens, Orange: The Orange junior pitcher Kristina Givens was working on her own no-hitter until the fourth inning, when left fielder Kayli Blankenship single. Northwood had scored three unearned runs before Blankenship’s bunt. Givens struck out 12.
Montana Davidson, Orange: The senior shortstop was 2-of-3 with a walk and scored a run. She also turned in some strong plays in the field, including lunging for a high throw and keeping her foot on second base to complete the force in the eighth.
Kayli Blankenship, Northwood: The leftfielder was 2-of-4 with a run scored and was on base four times from a throwing error at first base on a bunt and a walk. She scored on a dropped throw to third when Mia Davidson tried to pick her off. Blankenship also threw out a runner at the plate in the fifth as Ruff tried to score from second on a single by Montana Davidson.
This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Orange softball regains Big 8 lead after extra-innings win against Northwood."