ECC softball rematch set: Aycock, SW triumph in semifinal round

Published in Sports on May 4, 2007 1:47 PM

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The rematch is set.

County softball archrivals Charles B. Aycock and Southern Wayne will meet Monday evening to determine the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference tournament queen. The top-seeded Golden Falcons advanced with a 2-0 shutout over Wilson Hunt, while the second-seeded Saints escaped with a 3-2, 10-inning decision over Wilson Beddingfield.

Game time is 7 p.m. in Pikeville.

At Pikeville, senior right-hander Julia Lancaster fired a two-hitter and fanned 11 in a complete-game performance for C.B. Aycock. The Golden Falcons (19-5 overall) posted their second straight shutout and sixth overall in their last seven ECC outings.

Brittany Ford paced Aycock's offense with two hits. Heather Farmer, Leigh Smith (RBI) and Rusti Talton contributed one hit apiece. Shelly Lancaster drove in a run.

Hunt right-hander Brittany Farmer endured the pitching loss. She struck out one and surrendered two first-inning runs on five hits. It was the Warriors' 10th loss in their last 12 contests.

At Dudley, first baseman Lynn Grantham scampered home on a wild pitch to catapult the Saints (21-3) into the championship game. Grantham led off the 10th inning with a double and moved to third on a groundout.

Beddingfield squandered a 2-0 lead in the sixth.

Brianna Lofton (4-for-5) singled and shortstop Alyssa Bradshaw singled. Grantham moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Rachel Reynolds and Morgan Davis followed with RBI groundouts to forge a 2-2 tie.

Lauren Darden claimed her county- and ECC-leading 17th mound win with a five-hit, 11-strikeout performance. The right-hander didn't allow an earned run or walk a Bruin batter.

Ana Cooke, coming off a no-hitter Wednesday against Kinston, retired nine Saints on strikeouts. The right-hander yielded three runs (two earned) on nine hits in nine-plus innings.