TIFTON – The ABAC Fillies used a big fourth inning to knock off Blue Mountain Christian University 4-1 Friday before losing a lead late in the second game and falling 5-3.
It appeared that the Fillies were headed for a sweep in Game Two before the Toppers mounted their first serious offensive threat of the day in the top of the sixth inning. ABAC led 3-0 with two outs in the inning before the next five straight batters reached base on three hits, a walk, and a Filly error. It all resulted in five runs, and the visitors from Mississippi had their first lead of the afternoon.
ABAC had its chances in the final two innings for a rally of its own, but left a pair of runners on base in both innings with no runs to show.
The Fillies did their damage in the bottom of the fourth when they scored all three of their runs. Third baseman
Ashley Archibald singled, stole second, and advanced to third when
Ava Maxwell's grounder to second base was misplayed. Archibald scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead. Maxwell later scored on
Lexi Metts's fielder's choice, and
Laney McGee brought Metts home with an RBI single for a 3-0 lead that lasted until the big BMC sixth.
Archibald,
Carter Gore, and
Ava Roland each had a pair of hits in the loss. Filly starter
Addison Tyre took the loss, although only one of the four runs she allowed was earned.
The opener was much brighter for ABAC, who enjoyed the huge fourth inning and let starter
Tess Rollins handle things from there. The freshman from Warner Robins got the complete-game win, scattering six hits and one run for her fourth win of the season. Her pitching duel with the Toppers' Madison Montgomery lasted until the fourth when ABAC took over.
Archibald, Maxwell, and Metts each singled to load the bases with no outs.
Kendall Fowler's fly ball to center was dropped and Archibald raced home for the game's first run as all runners were safe. Then, McGee provided the big blast with a single to right that cleared the bases for a 4-0 lead. BMC did add a lone run in the fifth, but never made a serious run.
McGee,
Alli Eidson, and Archibald led ABAC with a pair of hits each.
The Fillies are now 7-15 overall and 5-8 in the conference. They return home Saturday for an SSAC doubleheader against Tennessee Southern beginning at noon.
