Woodland sweeps North Springs to advance to Class AAAAA Sweet Sixteen

The Woodland Lady Cats made their Class AAAAA first round playoff series a clean sweep Thursday night with a pair of five-inning, mercy-rule wins.

Woodland, the top-seed from Region 7-AAAAA, beat the visiting North Springs Lady Spartans 8-0 and 9-1 to advance and host the Sweet Sixteen round between next Tuesday, October 16 and Friday the 19th.

In the opener Thursday, Woodland pitcher Sarah Baynard tossed a one-hitter in a five-inning, complete-game shutout win. She struck out three.

Kendyl Hardin had three hits including a triple and three RBI while Caroline Higdon had three hits including a double and one RBI. Bella Carnes finished with a pair of hits and one RBI. Ansley Evans had a triple and Hannah Miller drove in two runs with a pair of sacrifice flies. Morgan Cooper and Jordan Duck contributed to the offense with sacrifices to move runners.

Natalie Bernstein had the only North Springs base hit.

In the nightcap, Woodland rolled up nine runs in the first four innings as Lady Cats’ pitcher Madi Bentley (photo) limited the Spartans.

Bentley worked all five innings, allowing three hits, no walks, and a single earned run. She fanned two.

Caroline Higdon had three hits for the Lady Cats. Kendyl Hardin had two hits including a double and three RBI. Morgan Bailey contributed two hits with one RBI. Hannah Miller doubled and had two RBI. Bella Carnes added a hit and one RBI. Jordan Duck drove in one run with a fourth inning sacrifice fly.

The Spartans’ season ends with an 8-12 record.

Woodland (24-7) will play the winner of the first round series between Buford and Southwest DeKalb.

PHOTO: Caroline Higdon had six hits in Thursday's playoff doubleheader. Photo by Randy Parker, The Daily Tribune News.