Holmes County beats NFC in softball

Holmes County vs North Florida Christian Softball

The Holmes County Lady Devils softball team faced off against North Florida Christian in Tallahassee Thursday evening in a game that would take 10 innings to decide a winner.

Holmes County junior Rachael Gavin got the start in the circle for the Lady Devils and kept the NFC squad in check through the first three innings as she struck out five and held the Eagles hitless.

Holmes County drew first blood in the third inning as they pushed two runs across the plate after Jenna Belser and Lacey Russ singled setting the stage for Crystal Thompson's two RBI single.

Gavin was relieved by junior pitcher Mary Elizabeth Pippin in the fourth inning.

Holmes County's defense faltered slightly in the fifth and sixth inning as they committed two errors that allowed NFC to plate a pair of unearned runs.

Holmes County settled down and played flawless defense in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings as Pippin kept the NFC bats at bay.

Holmes County's bats exploded in the 10th inning as they scored four runs on four hits that began with a single by Thompson, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Carley Long who reached on a fielding error. Anna Keen singled to load the bases and Gavin broke the 2-2 tie with a two RBI double driving in Thompson and Long. Jenna Steverson followed with an RBI single scoring Keen, and Belser drove in Gavin with a ground ball to the right side of the infield to run the score to 6-2.

In the bottom of the 10th inning Gavin returned to the circle in relief of Pippin to close out the game. However, NFC wouldn't go quietly as they managed to push two unearned runs across the plate in the 10th inning courtesy of a pair of Holmes County errors to tighten the score to 6-4. That's as close as the score got as Gavin got the clean-up batter to fly out to Long in right field to end the game and improve Holmes County's record to 18-4.

Gavin (10-1) was credited with the win as she recorded seven strikeouts and no walks while allowing two hits and no earned runs in four innings of work. Pippin (8-3) contributed six innings of work recording seven strikeouts and two walks, while allowing three hits and no earned runs. NFC's Heather Hughes (9-3) was charged with the loss.

Holmes Count's bats were led by Gavin who contributed a pair of doubles. Keen added a double and a single. Russ, Thompson, Belser and Sierra Jackson each contributed a pair of singles, and Steverson and Mikaela Strickland each had a single.