South Lenoir Storms Back to Defeat Southeast Alamance, Advances to 3rd Round
DEEP RUN, N.C. — Down 5-0 after three innings, South Lenoir responded with 13 unanswered runs to take down No. 22 Southeast Alamance 13-6 on Friday night, advancing to the third round of the NCHSAA 2A State Softball Playoffs.
The No. 6 seeded Blue Devils (15-6) were stunned early by a pair of quick scoring bursts from the visiting Stallions, but South Lenoir’s offense came alive in the second half — capped by a seven-run sixth inning that sealed the comeback win.
Carley Boone continued her postseason surge with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring three times. Rylan Wade also went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth. Kylee Weston added three hits and two RBIs, while Cloey Cole tripled in a run and scored three times.
After a shaky start, South Lenoir leaned on senior Callie Tyndall in the circle. The right-hander entered in the third and tossed five strong innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks to earn the win in relief. Jade Sasnett got the start and struck out four in two innings of work.
Trailing 5-1 entering the fourth, South Lenoir tied the game behind a mix of timely hits and defensive miscues by Southeast Alamance. The Blue Devils then grabbed the lead in the fifth before exploding in the sixth, stringing together seven hits in the inning, including RBI knocks from Tyndall, Boone, Wade, and Weston.
Tatum Shelton led the Stallions (now 11-10) with a 3-for-4 performance, including a two-run home run in the first. Brooke Hardister, Addison Reich, and Katie Lloyd each had two hits.
South Lenoir will now face No. 3 Martin County (21-4) in the third round.
Postgame Interview:
