Late-game surge lifts Stratford softball to Elite Eight win over Tattnall Square

Tattnall Square took the lead in the fourth inning, but Stratford took over the game in the fifth.

The Eagles put four runs across in the fifth inning en route to a 6-1 win Thursday over the Trojans in the GHSA Class 1A private school Elite Eight round in Columbus.

Both teams play Friday, Stratford at 9 a.m. against Wesleyan and Tattnall at 5 p.m. against Mount Pisgah.

Four Stratford players turned in two-hit games, led by Tori Dover, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs.

Ashlin Jackson went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI, and Autumn Land added two hits and an RBI. Hannah Rae Griffin was 2-for-4.

Dover went the distance for the win, striking out six and walking two. Ashleigh Morton had four strikeouts and no walks in taking the loss.

Carly Ingle was 2-for-4 for the Trojans (23-8), who had swept the regular-season series.

The Eagles got going in the fifth on a fielder’s choice grounder, singles by Dover and Evans McCook and a run-scoring error.

They got what proved to be the winning run on Jackson’s single to left, bringing in Dover. Stratford added two in that inning and two in the sixth.

Tattnall threatened in the seventh, with a two-out single, walk and a batter reaching on an error, but Dover got a strikeout to end the game.

In other action involving Middle Georgia teams, Dodge County advanced in Class 2A with a 4-0 win over Vidalia.

The Indians play Bacon County at 9 a.m. on Friday.

GMC nipped Bowdon 3-2 in extra innings in Class 1A public. GMC will play either Glascock County or Trion at 11 a.m.

FPD’s late game against Eagle’s Landing Christian wasn’t complete at deadline. Go to www.macon.com/sports for updates.

Telegraph Staff