1A Softball Championship Game 1 Recap: North Stanly slides past Princeton 3-2

Raleigh, N.C. – In a game that was tight the whole way, North Stanly got a pair of doubles from Sam Hogan, one in the first inning and another in the third, to push past Princeton 3-2. Hogan was 2 for 3 on the day and scored two of the Comets three runs. She also pitched seven innings only allowing five hits and two runs on her way to the win that puts North Stanly in a position to close out the best of three series in Game 2 Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

Hogan was matched almost pitch for pitch by Princeton’s Hailey Wood who also pitched a complete game, allowing five hits, but three runs on the day despite 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Hogan started a two-out rally in the top of the first for the Comets with a double, coming around to score as Heidi Smith ripped a single to plate the game’s first run. Smith came around on an RBI single by Alexa Sells and the Comets took a 2-0 lead right from the start.

The Comets tacked on another run in the third as Hogan slashed a triple with one-out in the third and Smith plated her on an RBI-groundout to take the Comet lead to 3-0.

Princeton answered in the bottom of the fourth when Casey Mitchell led off the inning with a double, Karlyn Woodard then reached on a throwing error and both runners came around to score on Briana Myers two-RBI double, cutting the North Stanly lead to 3-2.

The Bulldogs were unable to tie the game up despite threatening in the bottom of the seventh. North Stanly and Princeton return to action for game two of the best-of-three series at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at NC State’s Dail Softball Stadium.