DECATUR – Caitlyn Aldous’s walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the East Central Lady Warriors a 7-6 win of the Co-Lin Lady Wolves in game one of the best-of-three series in round one of the MACJC State Softball Tournament Friday night.

“Tough one to lose,” said Co-Lin head coach Allen Kent. “We did it to ourselves with errors, walks and lack of effort on a couple of ground balls that we should have kept on the infield. You can’t extend innings against a team like that. We got some big homeruns from Barbay and KT, but we must be able to make those runs stand up. We have to regroup and come back and play better tomorrow.”

The Lady Wolves (29-13) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning taking advantage of a couple of East Central miscues. Lauren Brashier reached base after being hit by pitch. Jessica Crum drew a walk. Dianna Hobgood ripped a ground ball to third reaching on an error to load the bases. Sophomore Brittany Barbay cleared the bases with one swing of the bat as she hit a shot that cleared the left field fence to put the Lady Wolves up 4-0.

The Lady Warriors would answer with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Elizabeth Frey and Andi Hannaford drew lead-off walks. They advanced to second and third on Latesia Davis’ ground out. Aldous singled to left field to score Frey and Hannaford scored on a Co-Lin error. Maegan Ellis’ RBI single plated Aldous to cut the Lady Wolves lead to 4-3.

East Central would take advantage on a passed ball and an error in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-4 lead. With one out, Ellis would reach on a fielder’s choice and advance to second on a passed ball. Mahalia Gibson would be intentionally walked. Brittany McCray singled to left field as Ellis tie the game at 4-all on a Co-Lin error. Kaitlyn Duke would single to plate Gibson. Courtesy runner Abby Winstead would score on another Co-Lin error to give East Central 6-4.

The Lady Wolves would tie the game in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Crum singled left. Kaitlyn Taylor followed with a home run to left field tie the game at 6-all.

The Lady Warriors came out firing in the bottom of the seventh. Frey led off the inning with a double to left field. Hannaford followed with a single. Davis singled to load the bases. Aldous came to the plate and hit a soft fly ball that fell in shallow center field and scored the winning run.

Crum led the Lady Wolves with three singles. Barbay had a grand slam and a single for four RBIs. Taylor homered for two RBIs. Trevlynn Scott hit safely.

For East Central, Aldous led the 13-hit attack collecting four singles for two RBIs. McCray and Summer Lavender had a pair of singles. Frey doubled. Ellis, Duke, Hannaford, and Davis collected a single apiece.

Taylor suffered the loss allowing seven runs (five earned) on 13 hits, struck out two and walked six in six innings.

Lacey Hill earned win for East Central giving up six runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out four and walking two in seven innings.