Aycock rallies past North Johnston

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on March 5, 2010 1:46 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- There's nothing quite like a little seventh-inning magic.

Misty Edwards raced home on a pair of throwing errors as Charles B. Aycock rallied for a 5-4, season-opening win over perennial softball power North Johnston on Thursday evening.

Edwards began the Golden Falcons' seventh with a walk and later stole second base. Ashley Shingleton was hit by a pitch and Edwards scored as the Panthers committed a pair of throwing errors on Brooke Bell's ground ball.

"We were talking about getting the lead-off hitter on," said Golden Falcons head coach Brad Matthews. "We did a good job of executing and that's what you have to do to win ballgames."

C.B. Aycock (1-0 overall) trailed 4-0 before pushing across three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Autumn Pittman cut the margin in half with a two-run single and later scored on a passed ball.

Bell earned the win on the mound, tossing seven innings of relief after North Johnston chased Pittman from the pitcher's circle in the top of the first inning. Bell allowed two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

"Brooke finished up strong," said Matthews. "She struggled early like Autumn did, but she gave us some big innings."

The Panthers began the ballgame with four consecutive hits and Lindsey Tippet gave North Johnston a 1-0 after scoring on a passed ball. Meredith Johnson added an RBI single.

Johnson's two-run double in the top of the fourth extended the lead to 4-0.

Bell, Pittman, Rachel Jordan and Cara Frederick each collected a hit for the Golden Falcons.

Aycock entertains Hunt next Tuesday.