Round 1 of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3A Softball Playoffs
Alexander Central 5
Tuscola 4
The Lady Cougars opened the state playoffs with a dramatic 5-4 win over Tuscola Tuesday in Taylorsville. Chesney Stikleather’s squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 7th scored Abby Teague to give Alexander Central the win.
Both teams committed two errors leading to three unearned runs for the Cougars and two for the visitors from Haywood County. Tuscola took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 6th but AC scored a pair to take a lead heading into the 7th. Tuscola fought back to tie the game before the game was decided with Stikeleather’s game-winning squeeze bunt.
Kara Hinkle came in to pitch the 7th and get the win despite allowing a run. Faith Carrigan hit a two-run homer and Ava Chapman had two hits to pace the Lady Cougars at the plate.
AC improves to 12-3 and will host the winner of the game between 6 seed Carson and 11 seed Marvin Ridge.