Cartersville softball falls in opener

Visiting Rockmart scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning Tuesday evening to edge Cartersville softball 6-4 in both teams’ season opener.

The game went to an extra inning with the score tied 4-4. Rockmart scored three runs in the top of the first and one more in the second. Cartersville scored two runs in the bottom of the first, one in the second and tied the game with a single run in the fifth inning. Rockmart (1-0) out hit Cartersville 10 to 5. Kiley Arnold (2.2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 7H, 3BB) started in the circle for the Lady Canes and worked into the third inning. McKinley Chada (5.1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 3H, 3BB, 2K) pitched the rest of the way and was saddled with the loss. Lauren McElhaney had two hits for Cartersville. Hope Short hit a two-run home run in the first inning, added a walk, and finished with two RBI. Mattie Johnson and AnnaKate McElhaney added one hit apiece.

Cartersville (0-1) returns to the diamond at Cedartown Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 5:55 p.m.