GULF SHORES, Ala. – A rough start was enough to doom the Martin Methodist Softball team as it fell 9-1 to William Carey (Miss.) University in its opening game at the 2014 Southern States Athletic Conference Championship at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex Thursday afternoon.
After winning 10 of their last 12 games to close the regular season, the SSAC East's third-seeded RedHawks (31-24) fell behind early to the SSAC West's runner-up as the Lady Crusaders (41-8) cranked out five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Lady Crusaders jumped on RedHawk starter Ana Davila early, cranking out seven hits and five runs as they chased the senior after just two-thirds of an inning.
Trailing by five runs, the RedHawks worked one back on the scoreboard in the top of the second as Alley Benefield led off the frame with her league-leading 13th home run of the year.
Unfortunately for the RedHawks, Benefield's blast would be the lone run of the afternoon as the squad left the bases loaded in what proved to be the club's best offensive chance of the day.
From there, Lady Crusaders starter Brittany Lang (20-2) allowed just one hit the rest of the way as the RedHawks struggled to solve one of the league's top pitchers.
The Lady Crusaders added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth off reliever Caroline Ezell, who tossed 4.2 innings of work after relieving Davila (4-4). The fellow senior allowed five hits and four runs, but only two were earned as the RedHawks committed two errors in the field.
Despite the loss, the RedHawks will still have a chance to play their way back into contention in Gulf Shores, but will face a much-tougher road.
The RedHawks return to action Friday, but will need three victories to advance to Championship Saturday. The RedHawks will begin their quest with a 10 a.m. Friday showdown against SSAC East fourth seed Brewton-Parker (Ga.) College.
With a win over the Barons (22-26), who fell 9-8 to Blue Mountain (Miss.) College in their tournament opener Thursday afternoon, the RedHawks would advance to a contest immediately following their first game on Friday.
The RedHawks and Barons met four times in the regular season, with the RedHawks winning three consecutively over their SSAC East rivals. The RedHawks downed the Barons twice in their final regular season ballgames at Mount Vernon, Ga. on April 26.
