ROCKY MOUNT -- In one play, everything the Southern Nash softball team had built crumbled right in front of them.
The Ladybirds committed two errors on one final play to allow top-seeded Northern Nash to score the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the seventh, handing third-seeded Southern a bitter 2-1 loss in Thursday's 3-A NEW 6 Conference tournament final at Nash Central High.
"I really thought we were going to win. I really thought we had it," Ladybirds pitcher Taylor Braswell said as she fought back tears. "I knew it'd be a tough game, and I thought that we'd pull through as much as we wanted it. But, I don't know. I don't know what to say."
Braswell, despite an outstanding performance that earned her Player of the Game, took the loss for the Ladybirds (12-9), allowing two unearned runs on just two hits and three walks. She struck out the first three batters of the game and finished with eight. Despite earlier assurances that she was not a strikeout pitcher, Braswell completed the three-game tournament with 27 strikeouts.
But, with one on, one out and trailing 1-0, Samantha Gurganus singled into right field for the Lady Knights (18-4). The Southern outfielder misplayed the dropping blooper, rolling underneath her glove to the fence.
Raven Lee, who had reached on a walk, scored from first on the error, and Gurganus went to third.
But as the cutoff throw came in, Gurganus made a wide turn at third, drawing a throw to the bag behind her. The throw skipped to the fence, as Gurganus scampered home to the jubilation of her team and utter dismay of the Ladybirds.
"It seems like every time we play them something crazy happens," Northern head coach Greg Tharrington said. "But that one probably takes the cake, and what better place for it to happen."
Brianne McKenny got the win for Northern, allowing one earned run on six hits. At times, she struggled with location, walking five batters, but even though eight Southern runners reached scoring position, only one scored.
After stranding runners on second and third the previous inning, the Ladybirds loaded the bases with one out in the second. Ashley Tharrington ripped a single up the middle that scored Hillary Wilson, who led off with a single to left, from third.
But that's all Southern would get -- and all it appeared it would need with the way Braswell was cruising. Braswell held the Lady Knights hitless until the fourth, and even then she worked out of a two-on, two-out jam, and then retired eight straight until Lee's walk in the seventh.
"I felt like I was pitching a really good game, and our defense had it the whole time," Braswell said. "It's just little mistakes, and I don't hold it against anybody. I think we played as a team and did really well tonight."
But as painfully close as they were to a conference crown, the Ladybirds at least look to build off disappointment when they open the playoffs on Tuesday.
"I think it does motivate them a little bit more," Southern head coach Christy Bailey said. "I'm sure they're upset and maybe their self-confidence is a little low, but I think it's going to make them hungrier for more, to go a little further."
Northern, as the conference champion, will play at home Tuesday most likely against Eastern Alamance. Southern, however, hits the road as the conference's No. 3 team against the Mid-State Conference's No. 2 team, which will be determined by a tiebreaker.
mlindsay@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807
Score by innings:
Southern Nash 010 000 0 -- 1
Northern Nash 000 000 2 -- 2
WP-Brianne McKenny. LP-Taylor Braswell (10-4).
LEADING HITTERS -- SN: Hillary Wilson 2-2, Tawny Richardson 2-2. NN: Lindsay Bailey 1-3, Samantha Gurganus 1-3.