Excel softball game halted at Mt. Pisgah
The Excel Lady Eagles’ softball team found themselves in a back-and-forth battle Thursday night at Mount Pisgah and by the end of the evening, nothing had been decided.
Excel and Mount Pisgah were tied 8-8 heading to extra innings when the umpires suspended the game due to darkness. There are no lights on the field used by the Lady Patriots.
The start of the game was delayed due to lightening in the area and the suspension means the two region foes will complete the tied game when Mount Pisgah visits Excel later in the season.
Excel took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but pitcher Taylor Gibson struggled with control early and the Lady Eagles found themselves down 3-1 in the bottom of the frame.
Coach Eric Harris turned to his freshman pitcher, Haley Owens, who got the Eagles out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the first and kept Excel in the game.
“I was really proud of Haley Owens,” said Harris. “Taylor was trying to battle through an inner ear infection and just had a tough time finding the strike zone early. We gave the ball to Haley and she really stepped up.”
Mount Pisgah added a run in the bottom of the second, but Excel answered with five in the third and one more in the fourth to make the score 7-4.
The Lady Patriots scored four more times in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 8-7, but the Lady Eagles knotted the score at 8-8 when Brighton McCollum crossed the plate in the top of the sixth.
After a scoreless seventh, the game was halted due to darkness.
Aliza Baker led the Eagles at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance. Whitney Harris, Xena Enos, and McCollum had one hit apiece for ECA.
In seven innings of work in the circle, Excel’s Owens recorded one strikeout and Coach Harris credited the freshman with throwing strikes consistently. “We’re in contention for a playoff spot,” noted Harris. “We’re 1-2 in the region right now. The completion of this game and the next game with Mount Pisgah will be really important. Trion, Christian Heritage, and Mount Zion are ahead of us in the standings, but we have a legitimate shot at that final state playoff spot.”
The Lady Eagles host Fellowship Christian Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 4:30p, travel to King’s Ridge Thursday, Sept. 10 (5:30p) and host Walker on Saturday, September 12 at noon.
