MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – It was a bittersweet afternoon for the Brewton-Parker softball program on Friday afternoon as BPC hosted Faulkner (Ala.) for a doubleheader in Mount Vernon.

The Lady Barons (15-19, 5-15 SSAC) battled against the Eagles (22-15, 10-10 SSAC) in two games that resulted in extra innings but dropped the pair despite fighting hard. The day resulted in a longer than normal doubleheader as rain forced a delay early in game one. After the storm cleared, played resumed and in between games, the program honored five special seniors for their dedication and time while at BPC.

How It Happened | G1 – BPC 5, FAULK 6

The Eagles opened with a leadoff single and an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead in the opening inning of play. After a swift bottom half of the first and a fast top half of the second, BPC found a double from Chloe Strickland, but she was left stranded to close out the inning.

Heading to the third inning, a storm cell washed the game to a halt and forcing a lengthy delay. After nearly two hours, play resumed with Faulkner notching two more hits to score a run in the top of the third for a 2-0 lead.

Brewton-Parker responded well in the bottom half of the inning as Ashley Wilson, Alyssa Usrey, and MacKenzie Tripp all produced base hits to help score three runs for the Lady Barons, claiming a 3-2 advantage. BPC also took advantage of an error from the guests to assist in the offensive efforts.

Faulkner leveled the game shortly after in the fourth inning with a solo home run. Brewton-Parker responded in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single from Alexis Bradshaw followed by a two-RBI double from Tripp, moving BPC to a 5-3 lead.

The Eagles equalized in the top of the seventh, utilizing a leadoff walk, a single, and a two-RBI single to level the score at five-all with a half inning of regulation to play. The Lady Barons were unable to produce anything offensively in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings.

Faulkner took care of the eighth inning with a leadoff single followed by dropped flyball from the BPC defense to land two runners on. The Eagles knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single to lead with a 6-5 advantage. Tripp barreled a leadoff base hit but was eventually caught stealing third base as the Lady Barons were held from extending the game further.

Inside the Statistics

• Faulkner lead 10-8 in hits while Brewton-Parker led 2-1 in doubles.
• Tripp led the way, going 3-for-4 on the game with three RBIs.
• Bradshaw and Wilson both led with two runs apiece while also notching a hit each.
• Bradshaw finished the day with a pair of stolen bases to lead BPC's six total stolen bags.
• Laykin Brown (6-8) received the loss, pitching all eight innings. She gave up six earned runs. Brown struck out two batters and walked one as well.

How It Happened | G2 – BPC 6, FAULK 8

Game two proved to be quite the battle as Brewton-Parker opened with a strong first inning, scoring three runs while producing a trio of base hits as well as taking advantage of a miscue from the visitors.

Bradshaw led the inning by reaching on an error and stealing second base. She was then moved to third on a bunt from Usrey, placing runners on the corners. Abbey Flowers doubled to left field to push home both Usrey and Bradshaw for the two-run edge. Strickland then notched an RBI base hit to give BPC a 3-0 advantage to close out the first.

Faulkner got one run back in the second inning, utilizing a bit of small ball to help push a run home to cut the deficit down to two runs. The visitors eventually broke through and captured the lead in the third inning, with a two-RBI triple and an RBI single to take a 4-3 lead.

The Lady Barons continued to battle, responding in the bottom half of the third with Flowers recording a single as well as Tripp. BPC found a run from a sacrifice flyout from Olivia Whitt to level things at four runs each.

In the top of the fifth, Faulkner moved back into control with an RBI single to take a 5-4 lead just before Brewton-Parker equalized as Flowers notched a leadoff double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Whitt brought Flowers home on a single to level the game 5-5.

After two scoreless innings to close out regulation, both teams were forced to take the game to extra innings as they extended the game past eight innings to remain at 5-5. In the ninth, Faulkner barreled a leadoff double and then found an RBI base hit to take a 6-5 edge. Brewton-Parker responded with a leveling score in the bottom of the ninth as Bradshaw reached on an error, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Usrey.

Flowers then lined out to the second base on which Bradshaw scored on a misplaced throw from the visitors to even the scoreboard. Tripp managed to knock a base hit, but was left stranded on a popup. The Eagles took care of business in the 10th inning with an RBI ground out and an RBI double to move to an 8-6 lead before slamming the door of opportunity shut on the Lady Barons.

Inside the Statistics

• Faulkner held a tight 11-10 hitting advantage while also leading 3-2 in doubles and with the lone triple of the game.
• Flowers led BPC, hitting 3-of-5 for the game with a pair of doubles and three RBIs.
• Natalie O'Neal started in the circle, pitching for 2.1 innings. She gave up four earned runs and three hits while walking five batters.
• Kristi Peters (3-5) was given the loss after pitching for 7.2 innings. She gave up three earned runs and eight hits while striking out three batters as well as walking two.

Next Up

• Brewton-Parker travels to Blue Mountain (Miss.) next Friday for a 4 p.m. doubleheader to open the weekend road trip.