ABILENE – The Bangs Lady Dragons’ postseason march continues thanks to a 21st consecutive victory, as the finishing touches were put on a Region I-2A softball quarterfinals sweep with a 10-4 victory over Hawley Friday afternoon at Abilene Cooper High School.
District 6 champion Bangs (28-4) fell behind District 7 third seed Hawley (21-12) by two runs in the bottom of the second inning, but answered with the next eight runs to reclaim the advantage and roll into the fourth round of the playoffs.
Bangs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Neeley Bradley laid down a bunt and reached on an error, and Abby Wolf followed with an infield single to shortstop. Julianna Ethridge then drew a walk to load the bases with one out, and Jadyn Miller followed with an RBI single to left field that brought home Bradley.
After being shutout Thursday, Hawley answered with a trio of runs in the bottom of the second to take its first lead of the series, 3-1.
The Lady Dragons answered with two runs in the top of third to knot the score at 3. Bradley led off the frame by reaching on a single and scored on a two-out RBI infield single by Miller. Sierra Lorah then drew a walk ahead of the tying RBI single from Emily Baker.
Bangs regained the advantage, 9-3, in the top of the fourth as the inning started with Jordan Valdez reaching on an error and Cheyenne Rush following with a double to center field. Bradley followed with a two-RBI double to center field, scoring both runners to push the Lady Dragons back in front, 5-3. With one out, Ethridge walked and Miller followed with an RBI sacrifice fly that drove in Bradley. Lorah then reached on an error that scored a run and Baker followed with a double to center field, and both runners scored on a two-RBI single by Bailey Mendieta.
Hawley tacked on its fourth run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Bangs reached double figures in the top of the seventh as Bradley led off with a walk and scored on Miller’s two-out RBI double.
The Lady Dragons finished with 15 hits, led by three and four RBIs from Miller. Baker also added three hits and drove in one; Bradley and Mendieta each finished with two hits and a pair of RBIs; Rush and Wolf contributed two hits apiece; and Lorah added a hit.
In the circle, Wolf pitched all seven innings and yielded four runs – three earned – on seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk. The Lady Dragons defense committed just one error.
Bangs will face either District 4 runner-up Forsan (24-9) or District 3 runner-up Ralls (26-6-1) next weekend in the regional semifinals. Ralls defeated Forsan, 10-8, in Game 1 Thursday. Games 2 and 3, if needed, were set to take place Friday in Lamesa.