FLOWERY BRANCH — Lauren Hicks's single driving in Zoe Hadaway in the bottom of the ninth gave Flowery Branch a dramatic 4-3 victory over North Oconee Tuesday in a crucial Region 8-4A contest at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex.
The win kept the Lady Falcons (6-1, 6-0 Region 8-4A) atop the region standings.
The hit by HIcks, her fourth on the day, capped a huge comeback for the Lady Falcons, who trailed 3-0 in the fourth inning. North Oconee jumped on Branch starter Alyssa Wagner for two quick runs in the first. The Lady Titans added another in the top of the fourth.
But the Lady Falcons began their comeback plating two runs in the bottom of the fourth on an Avery Thomas RBI double and a Abby Gray steal of home. In the fifth Hicks stole home to tie the game.
It stayed that way until the ninth.
Flowery Branch pounded out 12 hits led by Hicks and MaKaela Davis and Wagner, who each had two hits.
Wagner went four innings giving up three runs and fanning two. Nikki Harris got the win in relief going five innings and striking out eight.
GILMER 6,
DAWSON COUNTY 4
JEFFERSON 12,
CHESTATEE 0
The pair of hurlers also combined to strike out five while walking just one batter.
Meanwhile, the Lady Dragons offense pounded out eight hits and exploded for eight runs in the first inning. They added a run in the third and three more in the fourth.
Livi Blackstock had three hits and Emma Kate Sorrells had two hits and two RBI to lead the Jefferson offense. Abby Beatty, Mac Turner, and Maleia Truelove all had one hit for the Lady Dragons.
Ashlyn Gibbs had the lone hit for Chestatee.
COMMERCE 10,
WASHINGTON-WILKES 0
Rachel Morgan tossed a no-hitter for the Lady Tigers in a Region 8-A Public win at home.
Commerce got things moving in the first inning when Kylee Taylor got a RBI ground out and Emma Davis belted a two-run homer in the a four-run first inning. The Lady Tigers extended it to 5-0 with a run in the second. They scored five more in the third and then Morgan put Washington-Wilkes down in order in the fifth to end it.
Rachel Morgan and Paige Vickery each had two hits for Commerce while Maggie Mullis had a hit and two RBI for the Lady Tigers.
JACKSON COUNTY 4,
EASTSIDE 3
Peri Foster tripled in two runs in the bottom of the fifth to break a 2-2 tie and propel the Lady Panthers to a Region 8-5A win Tuesday at home.
Jackson County actually took an initial 2-0 lead highlighted by a Hailey Harpis RBI hit in the first inning. But Eastside rallied to tie the game at 2 in the top of the fifth. But Foster reclaimed the lead for the Lady Panthers. Eastsde pulled within the final score in the sixth but could get no closer.
Maegan Brownlee got the win for Jackson County surrendering six hits and three runs in seven innings, striking out three and walking one.
Foster finished with two hits and three RBI while Harpis and Whitney Hulsey had one hit each for Jackson County..
MADISON COUNTY 7,
EAST HALL 1
The Lady Vikings fell behind early and could not catch up in taking a Region 8-4A loss at East Hall Park on Tuesday.
Madison County jumped out to a quick 10 lead in the first and eventually extended it to 5-0 after a three-run fourth. East Hall cut it to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth on a bases loaded walk to Ansley Ivey.
East Hall managed just three hits, one each by Callie Dale, Alexis Burce, and Calli Hardison.
Hardison, meanwhile, took the loss for East Hall allowing seven runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking one in seven innings.
BUFORD 17,
SHILOH 1
