West Bladen Softball Earned First Win on Wednesday, Defeating South Columbus 7-3

Addison Wilcox at the plate for West Bladen.

Tabor City, NC - The West Bladen Knights softball team earned their first win of the season with a 7-3 victory over South Columbus on Wednesday.

From the opening inning to the final out, the Knights displayed resilience, timely hitting, and strong pitching to claim the road victory.

West Bladen wasted no time getting on the board, plating a run in the first inning. Allison Hickman, who played a pivotal role throughout the night, got the Knights started with a base hit and later came around to score.

The momentum continued in the second when Marlie Walters crossed home plate to give West Bladen a 2-0 lead.

South Columbus answered with a run of their own in the third, but West Bladen took control in the fourth inning.

Marlene Crabtree and Natalie Sykes each collected a hit and later scoring to extend the Knights' advantage to 5-1.

Holland Davis also made her presence felt, reaching base and adding to the offensive scoring.

With a comfortable lead, Hickman went to work on the mound, keeping South Columbus hitters off balance throughout the game.

The ace pitcher racked up six strikeouts while facing 29 batters, allowing just four hits and two earned runs.

Her command and composure proved to be a difference-maker as she worked through key innings with efficiency.

Addison Wilcox and the rest of the lineup continued to apply pressure, ensuring that the Knights stayed in control.

Although South Columbus made a late push in the bottom of the seventh with two runs, the Knights’ defense held firm, securing the 7-3 win and marking an important milestone for the team’s season.

The victory was a complete team effort, with contributions from multiple players. Hickman led the way offensively with three hits and a run scored, while Walters, Crabtree, and Sykes each played key roles at the plate.

Wilcox and McKoy added to the scoring punch.

With the first win now in the books, West Bladen will look to carry this momentum into their next matchup at home on Wednesday in a rematch vs. South Columbus.

Inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R

West Bladen - 1 1  0 3  0 1 1 7

South Columbus - 0 0  1 0  0 0 2 3