CONCORD — East Rowan is fighting for its softball playoff life. So far so good.

The Mustangs built a big lead early then held off host Central Cabarrus 8-4 Wednesday in the semifinals of the South Piedmont Conference softball tournament. Now the seventh-seeded Mustangs (9-10) is in the title game against Hickory Ridge with an opportunity to firmly secure a 3A state playoff spot.

“Right now, every day is like survive and advance for us,” East Rowan coach Mike Waddell said. “I don’t know the wildcard situation, but I would rather we come out and take care of business tomorrow to assure our spot.”

East Rowan scored an unearned run in the second then made it 3-0 in the fourth on RBI hits by Caroline Johnson and winning pitcher Bree Medlin. Coryn Soul made it 4-0 with a clutch single in the fifth.

With a 4-1 lead in the sixth, the Mustangs broke open the game after a single and two errors loaded the bases. Senior Shelby Benge then boomed a two-out double to the corner in right field. A couple of errant throws followed and when the dust settled all four runners scored to make it 8-1.

The third-seeded Vikings (12-11) made a late charge in the bottom of the seventh with three runs on four hits but Medlin ended it with a strikeout and a ground out to the circle.

East Rowan 010 214 0 — 8 10 2

Central Cabarrus 000 010 3 — 4 9 6

WP — Bree Medlin

LP — Jordan Baker

 

Hickory Ridge 7, West Rowan 6 (8 inns.)

CONCORD — Hickory Ridge broke out their home run bats in the late innings Wednesday and surprised top-seeded West Rowan with an eight-inning 7-6 semifinal win in the South Piedmont Conference tournament.

Twice in the game, the Falcons (17-5) led by four runs, but they could not hold off a late offensive surge by the fifth-seeded Ragin’ Bulls (12-11). Kaitlyn Macon powered a high shot to left with one out in the top of the eighth to give the Bulls their first lead of the game and it proved to be the winner.

West Rowan’s comeback effort fell short in the last of the eighth on a controversial call when Taylor Martin tried to go from first to third on a two-out single by Marissa Yow. A strong relay from center field cut down Martin at third base although it appeared she may have slid under the tag.

But the call stood and Hickory Ridge advanced to face East Rowan for the SPC tournament title Thursday at 6 p.m. at Central Cabarrus field.

The Falcons jumped out early with three in the first keyed by a two-run single by Khara Fesperman. They added another on Hunter Gibbons double in the second. Hickory Ridge started its homer barrage with a two-run shot by Gracyn Polk in the fifth for a 4-2 score. West Rowan responded with two of their own the the bottom half including a long homer by Yow to make it 6-2.

But the unraveling began in the top of the sixth when the Bulls got to pitcher Peyton Greene for three hits, including a homer by Lindsay Powell. A two-out single by Dakota Christie got past the left fielder and brought in two runs to tie it at 6-6.

Winning pitcher Breezy Yelton held the Falcons’ offense scoreless on two hits over the final three innings to help secure the win.

“I give them (Hickory Ridge) all the credit,” said West Rowan coach Jimmy Greene. “They did a great job of putting the bat on the ball in the late innings. ”

The Falcons are the top SPC seed in the 3A state playoffs starting next week and will host a first-round game.

 

Hickory Ridge 000 024 0 1 — 7 9 3

West Rowan 310 020 00 — 6 10 2

WP — Breezy Yelton

LP — Peyton Greene (15-5)

HR: WR – Yow; HR – Polk, Powell, Macon