The Lady Raiders were right back in action on Tuesday following Monday night’s loss against Pender. After suffering a loss earlier in the season at Wallace, Midway took advantage of strong performances by Emily Hairr and Hannah Lucas in the rematch to earn the 4-3 victory.
Midway struck first in the bottom of the first inning, posting a 1-0 lead after Lucas recorded an RBI that scored Hairr for the early lead.
Midway’s defense held the Lady Bulldogs scoreless through three innings and in the bottom of the third the Lady Raiders increased their lead.
The duo of Hairr and Lucas again combined to generate Midways second run. Hairr drew a walk earlier in the inning, then stole second. Two batters later, Lucas recorded another RBI with a single up the middle. Midway would lead 2-0 after three innings.
Wallace-Rose Hill finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of fourth inning.
The Lady Bulldogs led the inning off with a double to deep left field. A passed ball allowed the runner to advance to third who was then scored by the next batter. The inning would end with Midway still leading 2-1.
Midway responded in the bottom of the fourth by earning back one run. Blythe Best reached on a fielder’s choice and would later steal second base. Two batters later, Hairr would contribute an RBI of her own, hitting a shallow fly ball that fell safely behind first base. Best scored in the exchange and the inning would come to an end with Midway back up by two runs at 3-1.
The Lady Bulldogs clawed back in the top of the fifth. After retiring the first two batters, Midway pitcher Leah Williams surrendered a walk. The next batter doubled to center field, scoring the base runner after an errant throw to third base.
WRH finally tied the game in the top of the sixth inning after holding the Lady Raiders off in the bottom fifth. The Lady Bulldogs were able to plate a pair of runs off of a couple of Midway miscues to the tie the game at 3-3.
Midway answered in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a two-out rally. Leah Williams got aboard thanks to an error by the short stop then took second on a stolen base. Hairr stepped up to the plate and sent a sharp ground-ball down the third base line that found its way into the outfield for the RBI single, scoring Williams for the go-ahead run.
The Lady Raiders shut the Lady Bulldogs down in the top of the seventh, forcing them 3-up-3-down to secure the 4-3 win.
After the game, Midway head coach Leigh Ann Smith praised her team for not getting down when Wallace-Rose Hill was able to tie the game. “That’s one of our down falls but they kept digging and I’m proud of them. They worked hard.”
Midway was led offensively by Emily Hairr with two hits, two RBIs, two runs scored, a walk, and stolen base. Hannah Lucas and Kayley Hawley also each had two hits. Leah Williams, Haley Brooke West, and Blythe Best also each had hits.
The Lady Raiders resume play on Friday when they travel to Trask. That game is set for 6 p.m.