Tabb erases New Kent lead, pulls away for 8-3 win

New Kent catcher Haley Cleaver lunges toward Tabb runner Gracie Roberts, eventually tagging out the runner to end the Tiger half of the sixth inning.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Despite absorbing a 12-0, five-inning shutout in their first meeting, New Kent appeared on the way to avenging the one-sided defeat in Wednesday’s softball rematch. Heading into the sixth inning, the host Lady Trojans owned a 3-0 lead over Tabb’s Tigers.

In the sixth, however, a bases-loaded triple off the bat of Tabb’s Amber Verstynen put the Tigers in front to stay. The visitors added four more runs down the stretch to pull away for an 8-3 win.

“We definitely jumped out on them,” said Lady Trojan coach Maria Bates. “We’re a totally different team than last time. It’s just that we’re having trouble closing games.”

New Kent took advantage of Tiger mistakes, including two errors and a batter hit by a pitch, to take a 2-0 lead in the third inning. The first run scored on Taylor Goode’s fielder’s choice while the second raced home on Peyton Slater’s single.

In the fifth, Taylor Bates bounced a single up the middle, took second on Goode’s sacrifice, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Slater’s ground out.

But errors plagued the hosts to start the sixth, leading to Tabb’s first run. The Tigers then loaded the bases for Verstynen who lofted her triple into the right field corner. Gracie Roberts followed with a RBI triple to left before being thrown out while trying to stretch the hit into a homer.

New Kent, now 3-12, got the tying runs aboard in the sixth on Kamryn Belvin’s single and Alex Peace’s walk, but both were stranded. Tabb created the final margin with a three-run seventh.

“I’m looking at the progress we’ve made from game to game along with the heart and effort we gave today and I’m coming out pretty happy,” said Bates. “Now our games are up for grabs and we’re getting better.”