Few softball rivalries in recent years have meant as much on the statewide level as when South Caldwell and Alexander Central tangle.

When the two programs, who each have one state title over the last six seasons, met Wednesday night, it was the visiting No. 6 Spartans who had the upper hand from start to finish, handing No. 5 Alexander Central a 7-0 loss on its home field.

South Caldwell homered just two batters into the top of the first as shortstop Sydnee Bumgarner’s deep drive to right field hit the fielder’s mitt and landed over the wall after the outfielder hit the fence.

The Spartans tacked on two more in the top of the fourth and three in the top of the fifth.

Meanwhile, the host Cougars were struggling at the plate.

South Caldwell (10-0, 3-0) got a two-hit performance in the circle by pitcher Zalee Brown, who struck out three and walked just one. She induced 13 groundouts, and the Spartans didn’t make a single error behind her.

Alexander Central (9-2, 2-1) didn’t get a hit until a pair of singles in the bottom of the seventh, those coming from Lainey Russell and Kensley Davis. Starting pticher Macy Law gave up six hits and two earned runs and struck out three in the loss. Laney Wike pitched the final 2 and 2/3 innings, striking out one and giving up three hits.

Holland Weisner was credited with three RBIs for South Caldwell, and Kennedy Crouch had three hits. Bumgarner had a double off the wall in the fifth, and catcher Mcartney Harrington went 2-of-4 at the plate. Emily Coffey and Kenzie Clontz had one RBI apiece.

Source: highschoolot.com