East Bladen Rallies Late to Edge South Columbus in 9-8 Thriller

East Bladen Team Photo.

Elizabethtown, NC - In a game packed with emotion, East Bladen's softball team stormed back from a five-run deficit to claim a 9-8 win over South Columbus on Wednesday night.

The comeback victory marked the Lady Eagles’ second straight Waccamaw Conference win, improving their record to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Early on, things didn’t go East Bladen’s way. South Columbus jumped out to a 6-1 lead by the middle of the third inning, capitalizing on a pair of errors and timely hits. But East Bladen never folded, steadily chipping away at the deficit before exploding in the sixth inning.

Mollie Tolar sparked the offense early with a sharp single to center field in the bottom of the second, bringing home Taylor Dowless to tie the game at 1-1.

That would be just the beginning of a big night for both players. Tolar finished with two clutch hits and drove in two runs, including one in the pivotal sixth inning.

Dowless, always a spark plug at the top of the order, reached base and scored twice, delivering a key RBI double in the sixth to help close the gap.

As the Lady Eagles battled back, senior Niyah Wooten came through in a massive way. Wooten delivered two hits and drove in three runs, including a double in the fifth that scored Martha Simmons and Gabriella Bray to inject life into the dugout.

Later, her sixth-inning single brought the Eagles within striking distance, before scoring the game-tying run moments later.

Simmons played a crucial role as well, scoring twice and reaching base to set the table for the rally. Gracie Clark also crossed the plate in the sixth, helping fuel the comeback with smart baserunning and steady presence.

Tatum Allen came through in the biggest moment of the night. With two runners on and the game hanging in the balance, Allen laced a ground ball single to center field, plating Wooten and Gracie Edwards to give East Bladen its first lead of the game—and ultimately the win.

Allen’s bat delivered when it mattered most, and her two RBIs sealed the Lady Eagles’ remarkable comeback.

Gabriella Bray chipped in with two hits and a run scored, helping extend key innings and keeping the pressure on the South Columbus defense. Jenna Brice quietly added two hits of her own, keeping the lineup rolling from top to bottom.

In the circle, Gracie Edwards gave East Bladen a strong start, striking out six over five and two-thirds innings. Though South Columbus capitalized on a few defensive miscues, Edwards limited the damage with grit and control.

When the game tightened, Jenna Brice took over in relief and slammed the door, tossing the final inning and a third without allowing an earned run. Her calm presence and pinpoint command preserved the victory.

The win was a full-team effort, a testament to East Bladen’s resilience and growth as a unit. With momentum building, the Lady Eagles will look to keep the streak alive when they travel to Trask on Friday night.

---

East Bladen Rallies Late to Edge South Columbus in 9-8 Thriller