№2 Patrick County softball knocks off №7 Dan River in Region 2C quarters

Senior Lilly Hazelwood and junior Hayden Lawless aren’t strangers to the postseason…

Dan River’s Anna Campbell Stoler makes contact against Patrick County Monday evening. PHOTO: Davin Wilson/River City Sports.

STUART — Senior Lilly Hazelwood and junior Hayden Lawless aren’t strangers to the postseason.

The duo has helped lead Patrick County to the Region 2C playoffs for the past three years, including a trip to last year’s championship game and Class 2 state playoffs.

That experience showed in the Cougars’ regional quarterfinal against №7 Dan River on Monday evening.

Hazelwood drove in three runs on three hits. Lawless recorded a trio of RBI and №2 Patrick County held off a late Wildcats rally for a 10–5 win.

The Cougars advance to tomorrow’s semifinal showdown against №6 Chatham in Stuart at 6 p.m. The winner of the contest is guaranteed a spot in the Class 2 state tournament.

Dan River (9–10) entered the top of the sixth inning facing a 10–1 deficit after Patrick County had broken things open with a combined seven runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth. Knowing their season was on the line, the Wildcats put up a fight, scoring four runs in the frame.

Junior Kenley Cundiff started things off with a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Not standing on ceremony, sophomore Hannah Lee scored Cundiff with her double to left field. Sophomore Addison Snead kept the momentum going with her walk and freshman Taylor Barts cleared the bases with her three-run, home run to center in her playoff debut that pulled the ‘Cats within 10–5. That’s as close as Dan River got as Hayden Lawless induced a line out and fly out to get out of the jam.

A close game in the early going, Patrick County (17–4) created a bit of space with a five-run, bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Ava Hiatt started things off with a walk and moved to third on sophomore Chloe Hubbard’s bunt single. Junior Journey Moore brought Hiatt around with her single through the left side and Hayden Lawless made it a five-run game with her two-run double to center. Lilly Hazelwood kept things moving with a two-run double that pushed the Cougars’ lead to 8–1.

Patrick County kept it coming in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs on Moore’s RBI double and Hayden Lawless’ RBI sacrifice fly for a 10–1 cushion.

Dan River delivered the first blow, tagging Patrick County for a run in the top of the first on sophomore Bayleigh Merricks’ solo home run that gave the Wildcats a 1–0 lead.

The Cougars didn’t stay down for long, striking back for a pair of runs in their half of the first. Moore started things off with a single to center and Lilly Hazelwood struck two batters later with a double to center that knotted the score. Sophomore Taylor Lawless gave Patrick County the lead moments later with her RBI single.

Sophomore Lauren Hazelwood gave the Cougars a 3–1 lead on her RBI single to right in the bottom of the second.

Hayden Lawless and Lilly Lovelace led with three RBI each while Lilly Lovelace recorded three hits. Moore drove in two runs on three hits.

Woods picked up the win in the circle, scattering five hits and three runs, all earned, while striking out six in five innings pitched.

Barts paced Dan River with three RBI on her home run while Merricks and Lee drove in a run apiece.