Dogs' Wood, Braswell combine for 2-hit shutout over Eagles

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 28, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Princeton has discovered its team unity, found an offensive rhythm in the batter's box and become near unbeatable with Hailey Wood in the pitcher's circle.

Yep, the Bulldogs are finally resembling the team that's won five consecutive Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season softball championships.

That could be bad news for the rest of the league.

Wood, who logged a career-best 15 strikeouts during a perfect-game performance against Hobbton just four days ago, limited archrival Rosewood to two hits in a five-inning stint Monday afternoon. Bullpen mate Beth Braswell closed the door with two innings of shutout relief in a 7-0 triumph over the Eagles.

The duo combined for eight strikeouts.

"We kind of know their weaknesses hitting ... just throw it where they can't hit (and) mix the pitches up a little bit," said Wood, who allowed four base runners and turned a third-inning double play with Braswell.

"A lot of them can't turn on a pitch inside that quick, so I wanted to get it on their hands a little bit, give them a challenge."

Princeton (11-4 overall, 7-1 CC) won its eighth straight meeting against Rosewood, which was held hitless until Jordan DuBose connected on a lead-off single in the third inning.

Macy Tyndall had the Eagles' other hit.

Just two of Rosewood's six base runners reached second base.

"I'm so frustrated right now, I can't even talk to them without probably saying some things that I shouldn't be saying so I told them to pack their stuff and get out of here," said RHS head coach Shay Campbell, who felt his team played with no emotion and didn't match Princeton's intensity.

"Really, it comes down to drive ... how bad do you want to win? We have not been able to face quality teams to prepare us for games like this. (But) I'm not seeing the senior leadership from our four seniors that I'd like to see.

"Maybe tonight was a little bit of an eye opener."

When the teams met roughly a week ago, a thunderstorm washed out play with senior Charley Cox on second base. When play resumed, Cox moved to third on a groundout and scored on Taylor Carroll's single into left field.

Princeton pushed runs across in six of seven innings and every starter in the lineup reached base at least once in the 104-minute affair. Wood (RBI) and Carroll (two RBI) provided three hits apiece, while Cox batted 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Dogs had 12 hits on the day.

"We're finally hitting the ball," PHS assistant Ashley Braswell said. "We're getting solid hits, finding the holes (in the defense), making solid contact ... not dribbling it out there. It's about time we started showing up."

Princeton has won eight straight against Rosewood and 12 of 14 meetings overall since 2010.