SOFTBALL: Cobden scores in 7th to beat Elverado

In a game that could wind up deciding a conference champion, Cobden squeaked one out at home against Elverado in softball action on Wednesday, winning 4-3 on a two-out, walk-off double by Alaina Hartline.

The Lady Falcons had just taken the lead in the top of the seventh inning on a two-run double by Brooke Whittington, but couldn't hang on in the bottom half of the frame.

"I thought we were going to pull it out," said EHS head coach Donette Wheatley. "We jumped on them early in the first inning, then we left too many base-runners on and had way too many strikeouts. Baylie (McClanahan) had a good game at the plate and Brooke (Whittington) threw great."

McClanahan tripled and scored on a double by Paige Newfarmer in the top of the first inning to give Elverado a 1-0 lead, but the Appleknockers tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second without a hit. Two walks and a wild pitch allowed Josi Braden to score in the inning for Cobden.

Keileigh Britt cranked a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth to give the Appleknockers a one-run lead that held until the top of the seventh, when with one out, Cheyenne Abbadusky and Newfarmer both singled for EHS, setting the table for Whittington's go-ahead double.

But with down in the bottom of the inning, Carley Washer was hit by a pitch, Molly Ellis doubled, and Kaitlin McWhorter grounded out for an RBI to tie the game at 3-3. Hartline followed with the big double to win it for Cobden.

McClanahan (2-4, R, 2B, 3B), Abbadusky (1-3, R, BB), Newfarmer (1-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB) and Kaitlin Lively (1-2) each hit safely for the Lady Falcons.

Whittington allowed four earned runs on six hits and six walks. She struck out eight on the day.

Elverado will try to bounce back on Friday when they host Z-R-C for the home opener.