West Bladen Scores Nine Unanswered to Edge Fairmont in Thriller

Bladenboro, NC - In a dramatic rally that epitomized the word "resilience," West Bladen Softball erased an eight-run deficit to defeat Fairmont 9-8 on Thursday night, scoring nine unanswered runs and capping the night with a walk-off double from Brenna Hester.

Head Coach Josh Allen summed it up best when asked for one word to describe the comeback effort: “oh my goodness. Resilience.”

Fairmont jumped out to an 8-0 lead early, but the Lady Knights kept chipping away inning by inning until the final frame. With the game tied and two runners on, Hester stepped into the box and delivered a clutch double that drove in the final two runs and sealed the win in front of the home crowd.

Hester was a spark on both sides of the ball, not only coming through with the game-winning hit, but also collecting a run scored and finishing the night with two RBIs.

Kali Allen contributed to the comeback with a double of her own, driving in a run and later crossing the plate as West Bladen clawed back. Marlie Walters played a key role in the rally, scoring twice and adding a hit in the effort.

Natalee Sykes stayed locked in at the plate, collecting a single, a double, and an RBI, and scoring a run to help fuel the middle innings. Holland Davis added an RBI and scored once as well, showcasing solid swings throughout the game.

Addison Wilcox also found her way home after a well-timed hit, while Bristol Allen contributed with a double and an RBI, adding more pressure on Fairmont’s defense as the game tightened.

Marlene Crabtree delivered a complete-game effort in the circle. She went the distance, throwing all seven innings and facing 36 batters.

Crabtree allowed six hits and eight runs—only five of them earned—while striking out three and walking three.

Despite the early trouble, she settled in and kept Fairmont scoreless over the final innings, giving her team the opportunity to storm back.

Karlee Gause had two plate appearances and remained disciplined at the plate during key moments, while Crabtree helped her own cause with a hit and a run scored.

With the win, West Bladen improves to 8-7 overall and 5-3 in Southeastern Athletic Conference (SAC 6) play.

The Lady Knights will return from Spring Break with a critical series against Red Springs to close out the regular season.

West Bladen Scores Nine Unanswered to Edge Fairmont in Thriller