ACA’s postseason pedigree showed this week as the Lady Eagles ran through the Area tournament to advance to the Regionals for the 25th time in 26 years. Alabama Christian won two tight games early in the week and then took care of LAMP in the finals with a 16-0 whooping. A Hayley Cassidy grand slam ended the contest in the fourth as the mercy rule was needed with the sixteen run cushion.
Neither team scored in the first two innings, but ACA made up for it by scoring eight runs each in the third and fourth frames. In the third, Annabelle Pugh knocked in Katie Chappell for the first run of the game followed by run scoring at bats from KG Taylor and Haley Oswald. After the fourth run scored on a LAMP error, Oswald scored on a passed ball to increase the margin to 5-0. Rose Costanza added a two-run single followed by an RBI hit from Hayley Cassidy for the 8-0 advantage.
LAMP loaded the bases in the fourth, but came away with no runs, opening the door for the Eagles. The bottom half started innocently enough with an infield ground out, but the next eight batters reached safely and all scored to end it. Lawson Borland reached on an infield error, Haley Oswald singled to left, Skylar Crews singled to left for a 9-0 lead, Haley Ingram singled to right for a 10-0 cushion, Izzy Warrick singled to center to make the score 11-0, Katie Chappell singled to left scoring the twelfth run, Rose Costanza walked to load the bases and Hayley Cassidy sent a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam and the 16-0 blowout.
Hayley Cassidy finished the day 2 for 2 with two walks, a homer and five RBIs. Katie Chappell was 3 for 3 with a walk and scored three runs while Skylar Crews finished 2 for 2 with two RBIs. In the circle, Izzy Warrick earned the win as she allowed six hits, but no runs over four innings.
Alabama Christian travels to Gulf Shores next week to compete in the Regionals, as it should be.