Lexington softball facing must-win after losing to Byrnes in Game 1 of championship series
Byrnes had a sixth inning to remember and Lexington had one to forget Monday.
The Rebels scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat Lexington, 12-8, on Monday in Game 1 of the Class 5A softball championship series. Calee Smith delivered the big blow with a grand slam with one out to give the Rebels a 12-8 lead.
Game two is at Lexington on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. A third game, if necessary, is Friday night at a neutral site.
“It is a three-game series for a reason,” Lexington coach Laurie Epps said. “We got to bounce back and finish what we started. I am confident in what we have. We just got to come to play Wednesday and take it one pitch at a time.”
Lexington has had to deal losing big leads before this season. In three of the Wildcats’ four defeats, they have blown four run or more leads.
“I believe in these girls and they work so hard,” Epps said. “I think we are going to be alright. I’m proud to be their coach and we are going to bounce back and do what we need to do on Wednesday.
Trailing 8-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Byrnes came alive. Kasey Widmyer had an RBI single and Molly Mathas a two-run double to cut it to 8-6.
Back-to-back Lexington errors tied it at 8. Then Smith belted a Hannah Kumiyama pitch over the center-field fence to make it 12-8. Kumiyama came in the game during the sixth inning to relieve Allie Light.
“We have had some big innings before this season but not teams of this caliber,” Byrnes coach Brandi Aiken said. “Our kids are always fight and we always play to the last out. Obviously against a team as good as theirs (Lexington), I didn’t know if we would battle back to go ahead. I just wanted them to put up a fight.”
Haley Whitesides picked up the win in relief for Byrnes.
Saige Stanley had three hits and Jaci Fleming had two to lead Lexington.
Lexington jumped out for four runs in the top of the first inning. Peri Rouillard and Ashley Causey each had an RBI in the inning for Lexington, which had its first four runners reach to start the game.
Lexington led 5-0 before Byrnes scored twice to cut it to 5-2 after three innings. But Stanley hit a solo homer to lead off the fourth and Kumiyama added an RBI double in the inning to make it 7-2.
Byrnes is making its fourth straight appearance in the championship series. Lexington is in its first title series since 2001 and looking for its fifth title.
SCHSL Championship Schedule
Class 5A
Blythewood vs. Dutch Fork
Game 1: Blythewood 2, Dutch Fork 1 (9)
Tuesday: Blythewood at Dutch Fork, 7 p.m.
Friday: At Segra Park, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Class 4A
Eastside vs. Midland Valley
Monday: Eastside 11, Midland Valley 1
Wednesday: Eastside at Midland Valley
Saturday: Neutral Site, if necessary
Class 3A
Crescent vs. Bishop England
Game 1: Bishop England 3, Crescent 2
Tuesday: at Bishop England
Saturday: Neutral Site, if necessary
Class 2A
Landrum vs. Oceanside Collegiate
Monday: Landrum 2, Oceanside Collegiate 1
Wednesday: Landrum at Oceanside Collegiate, 6 p.m.
Saturday: Lexington Blowifish Stadium, if necessary
Class A
McBee vs.Green Sea Floyds
Game 1: McBee 2, Green Sea Floyds 0
Tuesday: at Green Sea Floyds, 6 p.m.
May 18: Neutral Site, if necessary
SCISA Playoff Schedule
Best-of 3 Series
Class 3A Championship
Ben Lippen vs. Hammond
Monday: Ben Lippen 12, Hammond 2 (5)
Tuesday: Ben Lippen at Hammond, 7 p.m.
Thursday: At Neutral site, if necessary
Class A
Championship
Richard Winn vs. Dorchester Academy
Monday: Dorchester 4, Richard Winn 0
Tuesday: Dorchester at Richard Winn, 6:30 p.m.
Friday: Neutral site, if necessary
Softball
SCHSL Playoff Schedule
Best-of 3 Series
Class 5A Championship
Monday: Byrnes 12, Lexington 8
Wednesday: Byrnes at Lexington, 6:30 p.m.
Friday: Neutral site, if necessary
Class 4A
Hartsville vs. Palmetto
Monday: Hartsville 6, Palmetto 5 (10)
Wednesday: Hartsville at Palmetto
Friday: Neutral site, if necessary
Class 3A
Union County vs. Battery Creek
Monday: Battery Creek 2, Union County 1
Wednesday: Union County at Battery Creek
Friday: Neutral site, if necessary
Class 2A
Latta vs. Ninety-Six
Monday: Ninety Six 5, Latta 3
Wednesday: Ninety Six at Latta
Friday: Neutral site, if necessary
Class A
Dixie vs. Lake View
Monday: Lake View 3, Dixie 1
Wednesday: Dixie at Lake View
Friday: Neutral site, if necessary
SCISA Playoff Schedule
Best-of 3 Series
Class 3A
Cardinal Newman vs. Wilson Hall
Monday: Wilson Hall 4, Cardinal Newman 2
Tuesday: Wilson Hall at Cardinal Newman
Wednesday: Cardinal Newman vs. Wilson Hall at neutral site, if necessary
This story was originally published May 13, 2019 at 9:46 PM.