ULAH, N.C. — A shutout pitching performance and alert base-running were enough for Southwestern Randolph to take down familiar postseason foe McMichael on Friday in the second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A softball playoffs.

The Cougars earned a trip to round three with a 4-0 victory that came in unusual fashion.

Southwestern Randolph (17-6) got out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Madelyn Smith’s infield single was followed up with her advancing to third on a single passed ball. When Kami Dunn grounded out to first, Smith scored.

The lead doubled to 2-0 when Micah Wilson’s seeing-eye base knock scored Maddie Strider, who had reached on a bloop single.

That was a strong lead given the way pitcher Macie Crutchfield was playing.

Crutchfield allowed just six hits and one walk (an intentional one in the first inning to Dakota Redmon), striking out nine batters.

The Cougars went up 4-0 thanks to two McMichael errors in the fifth inning that scored Nautica Parrish, who survived a run-down between third and home, and Dunn.

RBIs were credited to Dunn, Alyssa Harris, and Wilson.

First baseman Ellie Southern was a bright spot for McMichael (21-6), going 3-for-3 while batting sixth in the lineup.

Redmon allowed six hits and struck out seven, giving up four runs, none earned thanks to three errors.

The Phoenix’s most promising inning was the top of the third, when it had runners on first and second with no outs. But both runners went on an infield fly, and one was thrown out trying to advance at third, resulting in a double play. Redmon, a Radford recruit, ends her career with more than 25 home runs and 500 strikeouts.

Southwestern Randolph, the fourth seed in the 2A West, will host Owen, the fifth seed, in Tuesday’s third round.

Source: highschoolot.com