Wren forces a decisive Game 3 against Stratford

Class AAAA Softball

Goose Creek — For Wren's softball team, the lengthy trip here was all about survival. The ride back home probably had the mood of a revival.

The Hurricanes forced a decisive Game 3 in the best-of-3 Class AAAA state championship series with a 3-2 victory over Stratford on Wednesday night.

"Amen," said Wren softball coach Lynn Hicks, whose team bounced back from a 2-0 loss Monday and handed Stratford its first postseason defeat. "They started talking (Tuesday) about them being road warriors. They wanted to play on the road."

The third game will be at Irmo High School on Friday at 6 p.m. Stratford will be seeking its first state title since 1996.

"I told (my players) they're in the same situation Wren was in when they came down here," Stratford coach Debra Tolar said. "Now we're back to an even playing ground. Now it's a one-game series."

Stratford (32-4) had a chance in the seventh after Wren (25-5) scored its runs in the fourth and fifth innings to erase a 2-0 deficit.

The Knights got power hitter Cristy Hudson to the plate with Kristen James safely on first after a leadoff walk. But Hudson hit a sharp grounder to second and it turned into a double play. The decision not to sacrifice bunt loomed large after Casey Miller and Jordan Smith followed with singles.

Wren's Stephanie Saylor (23-5) struck out pinch hitter Courtney Lance to end it.

"Cristy has been an effective hitter all year," Tolar said. "She's hit five home runs this year. Why would you bunt somebody in that situation when you've got a senior that's stepped up all season at the plate? I wouldn't dare ask her to sit down the last inning of the state championship game."

Tolar was confident her team could bounce back, though it was visibly disappointed not to have the season end in glorious fashion on their field.

"Sometimes it takes a loss to snap them back into focus about what's important and what's not important," Tolar said. "Maybe us coasting all the way through without having to battle back has been part of a handicap, but good teams step up. We'll see who steps up Friday."

Stratford pitcher Caroline Pastre was perfect through three innings and working with a 2-0 lead before Wren came to life after 10 innings of futility. Mallory Kuykenvall's RBI single with two outs in the fourth followed Ericka Harris' triple and gave Wren its first run of the series.

In the fifth, Wren's Karlie Whitt hit a line drive to right field that glanced of the top of Casey Miller's glove and scored the tying run on Chelsea Hawkins' double to left. Hawkins then scored the go-ahead run when Stratford first baseman Leah Babson dropped a throw from shortstop Jordan Smith that would have been the third out.

"We made some mistakes on defense we didn't make Monday and they were able to chain their hits together," Tolar said.

Miller had three hits to lead Stratford, while Marlelena Santos and Hudson had two hits each.

Erin Schattle scored the Knights' first run on a wild pitch in the first inning and drove in their other run with a two-out double in the second inning.

"Whichever team shows up Friday night and is focused on the game is probably going to reap the benefits," Tolar said.

WP—Saylors (23-5). LP—Pastre (26-4).