Greene Central Earns First Playoff Win Since 2019, Stuns West Bladen on Road
Greene Central Earns First Playoff Win Since 2019, Stuns West Bladen on Road
Greene Central is moving on.
The Lady Rams rallied for three runs in the seventh inning Tuesday night to defeat West Bladen 5-3 in the opening round of the NCHSAA 3A Softball State Playoffs. The No. 17 seed Greene Central improved to 11-11 on the season and secured the program’s first playoff victory since 2019 and first road playoff win since 2009.
Greene Central will now travel to face No. 1 Midway (19-1) on Friday in the second round.
West Bladen (9-12) grabbed momentum early, scoring twice in the second inning after Karlee Gause drew a walk and Jahyrah Priest produced a sacrifice fly to give the Lady Knights a 2-0 advantage.
The Lady Rams answered in the fourth inning. Drew Wells delivered a clutch RBI triple before Greene Central tied the game on a West Bladen error.
The Lady Knights regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Addison Wilcox ripped an RBI double to put West Bladen ahead 3-2.
Greene Central saved its biggest response for the seventh.
Sam Martinez tied the game with an RBI single to center field before Anna Grace Tilghman delivered a go-ahead double down the right field line. The Lady Rams later added an insurance run on a passed ball to complete the comeback.
Tilghman handled the rest in the circle, tossing a complete game. The right-hander allowed eight hits and three runs while striking out three and walking two across seven innings.
West Bladen starter Maycee Kinlaw struck out eight and allowed just four hits over 6.1 innings, but Greene Central capitalized late to take control.
Martinez, Tilghman, Wells, and Jayce Russell each recorded an RBI for Greene Central. Tilghman led the Lady Rams offensively, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate.
West Bladen was led by Abigail Dew and Brenna Hester, who each collected two hits. Allison Hickman added three stolen bases as the Lady Knights totaled four steals in the game.
Greene Central finished with five hits and overcame two defensive errors to extend its season.
