By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Lindsey Corbett stood just 60 feet from tying the game.
The J.H. Rose slugger led off the top of the seventh with an infield single, stole second and went to third on a throwing error — all with no outs. It seemed almost inevitable that the Rampants would tie the game, and force Washington to either win it in the bottom half or send the game into extra innings during Tuesday’s Coastal Conference clash.
But that’s when Pam Pack senior third baseman Brittany Bryant made the play of the night, helping Washington escape with a 2-1 victory.
With Corbett getting ready to race for home, Pack pitcher Charity Watson got Kaitlin Parker to pop up on a bunt attempt.
Bryant, anticipating bunt all the way, raced down the line and speared Parker’s pop. The Washington senior turned and fired the ball to shortstop Lily Ann Arnold, who was covering the bag at third base, doubling up Corbett for a quick two outs.
Watson got the final batter to fly out to Morgan Bryant in right field to end the game, as Washington (10-4, 6-2) salvaged a series split with the Rampants (7-5, 5-3).
Kristi Wood’s triple, a smash into right-center, scored Brittany Moss with what proved to be the game-winner in the fourth.
Hayley Stowe’s bloop infield single scored Moss with Washington’s first run in the second.
The Rampants threatened early and often. They got a runner to third base in each of the first two innings, but Watson kept them there. The senior went on to strike out 12 batters while scattering five hits in the victory.
Kellie Beres, J.H. Rose’s standout pitcher, was nearly as good. She also fanned 12 and gave up just three hits, while collecting a pair of hits herself.
Washington, which failed to score after loading the bases in the first, went up 1-0 in the second. Moss slapped a single and Wood drew a two-out walk. Stowe then blooped one just out of the reach of Beres on the mound. The ball hit off Beres’ glove and trickled away, giving Moss enough time to race home from second.
The Pack went up 2-0 in the fourth. Moss drew a one-out walk and raced home when Wood crushed a two-out triple into the gap.
Beres beat out an infield hit to start the sixth, stole second and eventually scored on a suicide squeeze to make it 2-1.
The Rampants threatened again in the seventh, but Bryant’s glove work and quick thinking helped Washington escape the jam.
The Pack heads to New Bern (10-2, 5-2) Friday. The teams will finish a game that is deadlocked 0-0 after 12 innings, then play the regularly-scheduled contest.