Lady Gators Earn 4-3 Win in Latta, Fall 6-4 to Wolverines for Lower State Title

Lake View’s Lady Wild Gators defeated Latta 4-3 on Wednesday for a shot at the lower state title, but fell 6-4 to East Clarendon on Friday in the championship game.

On Wednesday, Lake View hosted Latta and was trailing 3-2 heading into the seventh inning. Lake View’s Marissa Tyndall singled to start the inning, with Jasmine Ford running. Ford advanced to second on a bunt from Kayce Wong, and advanced to third on a single from Ally Spivey. Spivey stole second to get both runners into scoring position, and Ahsley Rogers hit one into the gap in the right to score both and earn the Lady Gators the 4-3 win.

Marissa Tyndall earned the win on the mound, pitching three innings for four hits, one earned run, and three outs. Anna Rogers took the loss for Latta, pitching seven innings for nine hits, four runs, two earned runs, four walks, and three outs.

At bat for the Gators, Morgan Herlong went 3-for-3 with one RBI; Ally Spivey went 2-for-4; and Ashley Rogers went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Madison Owens led Latta at bat, going 2-for-4 for the Lady Vikings.

Latta finished out the season with a 15-6 record overall while Lake View advanced to the lower state championship.

The Lady Gators traveled to Turbeville, SC, to face East Clarendon in the lower state finale, but the Lady Wolverines earned a 6-4 win, getting all six of their runs in the first two innings.

With two outs and Morgan Herlong on the mound, the Wolverines scored their first two runs with Jessica Welch reaching on a single and Leslie Altman walked to advance her and put runners on first and second. Abby Rearedon hit a double to score both, putting East Clarendon up 2-0.

In the second, East Clarendon’s KaTerra Rose doubled and Caitlin Timmons singled to put runners on the bases. Welch singled to score both, and Elly Floyd doubled to score Welch. Gracen Watts followed up with a single to score Floyd to give the Wolverine’s a 6-0 lead. Lake View brought in Marissa Tyndall on the mound, and Tyndall retired the next three batters to end the inning. Tyndall held off the Wolverines through the next four innnings allowing just three hits.

Lake View got on the board in the top of the third, with Herlong reaching base after being hit by a pitch from East Clarendon’s Leslie Altman. She advanced to second on a whild pitch, and Madison Matthews bunted to move Herlong to third. Tyndall reached on a missed throw that allowed Herlong and Matthews to score. Wong struck out, but Spivey singled to score Tyndall to leave the Lady Gators trailing 6-3.

Lake View couldn’t score again until the fifth, when Herlong reached on another hit by pitch. Matthews bunted again to to advance Herlong, and Tyndall doubled to score her to leave Lake View trailing 6-4.

The Lady Gators went down quickly in the sixth on a strikeout and two grounders, and Madison Greene struck out to open the seventh. Herlong walked, but was put out on a fielder’s choice from Matthews. With two outs, Tyndall reached on a single to put the a tying run within reach, but Wong flew out to center to end the game.

Leslie Altman earned the win on the mound for the Wolverines, allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out five.

Lake View finished the season with an 18-8 record, while East Clarendon improved to 20-4 and advanced to the Class A State Championship series.

East Clarendon, the defending champ, will face Dixie in the state series for the second year in a row. Dixie earned a 7-0 win over Lewisville for the upper state title.

Photos by Jill Sanderson Tyndall. Click the images below to view at full size!