GAINESVILLE — North Hall ran its win streak to three straight with an 8-0 five-inning win over Dawson County on Tuesday.
The win for the Lady Trojans (7-9, 5-6 Region 7-3A) pulled them into a fourth-place tie with Dawson County 5-13, 5-6 Region 7-3A) which had its two-game win streak snapped.
After a two-run first, a grand slam by Anna Reeves and a two-run homer by Kendal Clackum highlighted a six-run second inning for North Hall to blow the game open.
In the circle, Mac Taylor threw a three-hit shutout, striking out three to get the win.
Olivia Martinez took the loss for Dawson County. She scattered seven hits but only one of the eight runs was earned as the Lady Tigers committed three big errors.
North Hall next will travel to Cherokee Bluff on Thursday in a key Region 7-3A battle.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 8,
LUMPKIN COUNTY 3
The Lady Bears (12-4, 8-2 Region 7-3A) rallied for a key region win to snap a two-game win streak and remain in second place.
Lumpkin County (75-11, 4-8 Region 7-3A) led 2-0 after plating a pair of runs in the first. It stayed that way until Cherokee Bluff tied in the fourth. The Lady Indians reclaimed the lead 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the inning.
It was all Lady Bears from there. Bluff scored three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two more in the seventh.
Stephanie Condland was 4-for-4 with 2 doubles while Kate Herran had a big two-run double to break the game open.
Izzy Herran threw a complete game for the win striking out eight.
BUFORD 8
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 0 (5 inn)
The Class 6A No. 1-ranked Lady Wolves pushed their win streak to seven straight with a shutout win over the Lady Raiders in a key region contest.
Sophomore Emma Grace Williams remained undefeated in the circle (6-0), striking out a career-high 9 batters and scattering five hits to lead Buford (14-1-1, 6-1 in Region 8-6A) to the victory. No Habersham Central runner advanced past second base.
Sophomore Madison Pickens led the Buford offense with two hits, two RBI, stealing three bases, and scoring three runs. Sophomore Adriana Martinez and junior Emma Castorri each had a hit and two RBI for the Lady Wolves.
Buford next travels to Shiloh on Thursday for another Region 8-6A contest.
FLOWERY BRANCH 2,
EAST HALL 1 (10 inn)
The Lady Falcons’ Zoe Hadaway-Johnston singled on a 0-2 count driving in the game-winning run in a key Region 8-4A game for both teams.
The win kept Flowery Branch (9-4, 6-3 Region 8-4A) in third place while the Lady Vikings (7-9, 2-6 Region 8-4A) dropped to fifth place with their fifth consecutive loss.
Nikki Harris was outstanding in the circle for the Lady Falcons going all 10 innings allowing just one run on 10 hits and striking out 18 to get the win.
Calli Hardison was equally tough, surrendering just eight hits and fanning 15 in 9 2/3 innings.
Flowery Branch scored first with a run in the bottom of the fifth and the Lady Vikings tied it up with a run in the top of the sixth. East Hall left the potential go-ahead run on the seventh while the Lady Falcons stranded a pair of runners in the seventh with a chance to win.
Casey Beaver, Johnston-Hadaway, and Alyssa Wagner who all had two hits for Flowery Branch. Savanna Rutledge and Avery Thomas also collected hits for the Falcons.
Callie Dale, Alexis Burce, and Gracie Ausborn all had two hits to lead East Hall.
Brach next will play host to North Oconee on Thursday in another 8-4A battle.
NORTH OCONEE 5,
JEFFERSON 4
The Lady Dragons could not hold an early lead in dropping a Region 8-4A game on the road.
Jefferson (9-4, 6-3 Region 8-4A) led 2-0 in the third inning but North Oconee (13-6, 7-2 Region 8-4A) scored a run in the bottom of the third and took a 4-1 lead in the fifth. The Lady Dragons scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie the game on RBI hits from Avery Hays and Anslee Pittman but left the go-ahead run on base.
North Oconee scored the game-winner on a two-out, bases loaded single.
Taylor Spivey took the tough-luck loss for Jefferson allowing one run on two hits in 1 2/3 innings in relief.
