Tuesday’s Region 5-5A softball opener qualified as a “statement” game for host team White Knoll and rival Lexington.

A win would help recertify the defending Class 5A champions’ standing as the team to beat. For the Lady Wildcats, a victory would gain them an early advantage in ending the Lady Timberwolves’ 2-year region winning region.

Lexington jumped out to an early 4-0 lead through 3 innings. Over the next 4 innings, the Lady Timberwolves roared back with 7 unanswered runs and claimed a 7-4 victory.

It was the 23rd consecutive region victory for White Knol (5-0, 1-0). Shelby Davies sparked the comeback with 4 RBI on 3 hits. After surrendering 4 runs on 2 hits through the first 3 innings, pitcher Andrea Lyon held the Lady Wildcats scorelss and finished with 11 strikeouts.

“First off, I think it shows the fight and heart these young ladies have,” White Knoll head coach April Farr said. “From the beginning, we never lost our cool and our kids kept their heads in the game. It was the first big game of the season with a lot of hype going into the game and we just needed to settle down and play White Knoll softball. So they just dug deep and made the adjustments we needed to get a rally going and make things happen.”

Lexington (2-1, 0-1) struck first in the 1st inning. Sarah Gordon reached and scored on errors at third base to put the Lady Wildcats on the board and Jaci Fleming doubled to centerfield to make it 2-0.

Fleming struck again in the Top 3rd with a 2-run double to rightfield. It was the final hit allowed by Lyon, who started the comeback in the Bottom 4th with an RBI double off starter Allie Light.

Davies followed with an RBI single, prompting a pitching change from Light to Hannah Kumiyama.

The University of South Carolina signee gave up a single and walk to load the bases and gave up a wild pitch that scored Davies and brought White Knoll within 4-3.

In the bottom 5th, Hannah Goodwin was hit to lead off and Lyon took Kumiyama to a full count before singling aboard. Davies continued her torrid hitting with an RBI single to tie the game 3-3.

Light returned to the mound and Lexington was able to escape the inning without further damage. In the 6th, Goodwin put White Knoll ahead with an RBI single and Davies connected with a 2-run single to leftfield for insurance.

“Moving forward it shows that we are a team that is going to fight to the end and we will work hard form this day forward to make adjustments and to keep getting better,” Farr said.

Both teams return to action Thursday for non-region games. White Knoll plays host to Midland Valley, while Lexington travels to Blythewood.

"We came out strong, but we have to finish," Lexington head coach Laurie Epps said. "I'm proud of our team and the progress we have made thus far. The girls know our goal is to get better everyday. We will continue to work hard and play the game one pitch at a time."

Dutch Fork 5, Chapin 2

Morgan Scott struck out 13 and had 2 hits and Isabel Garcia, Tenley Hartford and Megan Stolzenbach each drove in a run for the Lady Silver Foxes.

Tracey Truesdale had 2 hits and 2 RBI for the Lady Eagles.

Airport 15, Aiken 0 (3 innings)
Hannah Fisher drove in 5 runs, including a 3rd inning grand slam home run and struck out 8 and Caliegh Corbitt had 4 RBI, including a 1st inning 3-run homer, for the Lady Eagles.
Ulyssa Lykes had 3 hits and scored 3 runs along with Fisher and Corbitt and Abby Fisher drove in 2 runs in the win. 
 

Batesburg-Leesville 3, Abbeville 2

(MONDAY'S SCORES)

Pelion 26, Eau Claire 1 (Game 1)

Pelion 19, Eau Claire 1 (Game 2)

The Lady Panthers had 18 hits in the Game 1 victory. In Game 2, Allyssa Ladomirack and Ashlynn Kayton both had 2 hits and 3 RBI to lead the offensive attack.

Pelion travels to Brookland-Cayce Thursday.

BASEBALL

Airport 8, North Augusta 0

John Allen Forrester had 3 RBI, Colby Key and Parker Whittle both had 2 hits and 2 RBI and Blake Palyok had 3 hits to lead the Eagles to victory.

Whittle and Brandon Caughman combined for 8 strikeouts in 7 shutout innings.

Airport (2-3-1, 1-1) plays host to Dreher Thursday.

Gilbert 11, Swansea 0

Dawson Burkett had 3 hits and Hayden Hill and Ashby Vining had 2 each in support of winning pitcher Travis Elliott.

The Indians improved to 5-1 overall, 1-0 in Region 5-3A.

Abbeville 3, Batesburg-Leesville 2

GIRLS SOCCER

Lexington 3, White Knoll 1

The Lady Wildcats opened Region 5-5A by extending its 5-year-old winning streak in region play.

Logan Kitts had 2 assists and Emma Grace Power, Kellyn Motley and Trinity Broach all scored for the Lady Wildcats, who won their 46th consecutive region contest.

Swansea 5, Gilbert 0

Bri Reynold scored a "hat trick" with 3 goals for the Lady Tigers on Tuesday.

Banner McNatt had 15 saves for the Indians.

Pelion 4, Strom Thurmond 3 (OT)

Mady Quinn scored 2 goals and Hannah Owens and Alisha McDaniel each added 1 for the Lady Panthers in their Region 5-3A opener.

River Bluff 5, Nation Ford 0

Maddie Poole and Nicolle Malpartida each scored twice and Hannah Corley had 2 assists for the Lady Gators (9-0-1).

River Bluff opens Region 5-5A play Friday at Dutch Fork.

BOYS SOCCER

Lexington 6, White Knoll 0

Jaxon Keene scored twice and Sam Pent, Graham Owiriwa, Nolan Pollard and Austin Vaughn all added scorers for the Wildcats in their Region 5-5A opener.

Spring Valley 6, Irmo 1 

BOYS TENNIS  
Lexington 6, White Knoll 0 
The Wildcats improved to 4-0 overall after winning their Region 5-5A opener Tuesday. Up next is a non-region home matchup at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday against Oceanside Christian Academy. 

(SINGLES)
Patrick Cronin (L) def. Conner Dupree 6-1, 6-0
Zack Howard (L) def. Kye Walker 6-0, 6-0
Hampton Cope (L) def. Bernard Guinyard 6-1, 6-0
Daniel Mahoney (L) def. George Bernard 6-0, 6-0
Mehul Jain (L) def. Will Woods 6-0, 6-0

(DOUBLES) 
Connor Hewson/ Alex Fellers def. Ryan Woods/ Collin Woods 6-0, 6-0

BOYS GOLF
Gilbert 171, White Knoll 208, Swansea 258
Gilbert won a tri-match Tuesday at Indian River Golf Club with a team score of 171 points.
The Indians' top 4 scorers were Sully Hooper (38), Drew Albus (43), Blake Dimsdale (45) and Jackson Reeves (45).
White Knoll placed 2nd with a score of 208. The Top 4 scores for the Timberwolves were Dillon Humes (42), Colin Marshall (46), Chandler Lawson (50) and Payton Floyd (70). 
Swansea placed 3rd with a score of 258. The Top 4 scorers for the Tigers were James Pollard (61), Kyle Frick (61), Caleb Gleaton (67) and Abby Brunson (69).