Softball -- WCDS duels with North Duplin

By David Williams
Published in Sports on April 30, 2004 1:58 PM

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LITTLEFIELD -- North Duplin battled pitch-for-pitch against state-ranked Ayden-Grifton on Thursday afternoon, but came up short in a 4-1 Carolina 1-A Conference loss.

"We're the youngest team out there and for us to play with them ... go the distance and stay in the ball game the entire time, I'm extremely proud of them," Rebels coach Heather Best said. "They didn't quit. We made them work and they made us work."

The Rebels collected just two hits. However, they put the pressure on the Charger defense with strong base running. Staci Faulk stole four bases, while Bethany Malcolm stole two.

Faulk and Malcolm each provided one hit.

Julie Ivey provided North Duplin's lone run with a third-inning fielder's choice.

Casey Pate suffered the pitching loss, striking out three in a complete-game effort.

Barton College recruit Jayme Beacham notched 16 strikeouts and yielded an unearned run for Ayden-Grifton, ranked No. 6 in the latest ihigh.com/coaches and media poll. The Chargers are 11-2 overall and remained one game behind No. 1-ranked North Johnston in the conference standings.

North Duplin (2-16) is 1-9 in Carolina Conference play.

North Duplin 001 000 0 -- 1 2 3

Ayden-Grifton 102 001 x -- 4 7 2

Leading hitters -- North Duplin -- Staci Faulk 1-2; Bethany Malcolm 1-3. Ayden-Grifton -- McLawhorn 2-3, 2B; Jayme Beacham 2-3.

IP H R ER BB SO

North Duplin

Pate (L) 6 7 4 3 0 3

Ayden-Grifton

Beacham (W) 7 2 1 0 2 16