ACA waited for a great time to beat St James for the first time this year as they turned the tables on the Lady Trojans with a late run in the 5-4 triumph. Rose Costanza knocked in the game winning run with a one-out single to center that scored Izzy Warrick in the top of the seventh for the one-run victory. The Eagles will take on LAMP, Wednesday, in the winner bracket final.
Alabama Christian struck first in the top of the opening inning as Izzy Warrick advanced to third on a passed ball and scored two pitches later on a wild pitch with two outs for the 1-0 lead. After giving up the lead in the bottom of the first, ACA responded with three runs in the top of the second for the 4-2 advantage. After a walk, Annabelle Pugh scored on a wild pitch to tie the game while Haley Ingram and Warrick followed with run scoring singles for the Eagles’ other two runs. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the fourth as the Trojans cut the lead to 4-3. Warrick took the circle in relief of Costanza in the top of the fifth to try and finish the game, but St James was able to score one and tie it up in the fifth. After a scoreless sixth, both team’s would have one more at bat to win it in regulation. With one out in the top of the frame, Warrick singled followed by Katie Chappell who was hit by pitch for the second time on the day and a school record 22nd time for her career. With two on and one out, Costanza delivered the game winning blow. In the bottom half, Warrick pitched a perfect inning to earn the victory in relief.
Warrick and Costanza produced five of the team’s seven hits as Warrick went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and Costanza finished 2 for 3 with an RBI. For the 35th consecutive game, Haley Ingram had at least one hit with a 1 for 4 effort.