At one point on Saturday, Apex looked down and out. Now the Cougars are preparing for a decisive Game 3 in the NCHSAA 2A softball state championship series after beating Hickory Ridge 8-6 in extra innings on a two-run walk-off home run by Kaleigh Ayscue in the bottom of the eight of Game 2 at Duke's softball stadium.
Down 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Apex scored five times to take the lead then held on to claim the 4A softball eastern regional championship with a 7-6 victory in game three over Topsail on Friday May 26, 2023
Topsail saved its best for last on Wednesday evening.
The Pirates claimed its first lead of the 4A eastern regional best-of-three series on the game's final play, a walk-off single to defeat Apex 5-4.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh, Rylee Reuter singled home Zoey Vincent to cap off a come-from-behind victory.
Apex jumped out to an early lead in the top of the third inning.
Kathryn Curry and Anamie Whittlesey reached to start the frame then out of the lead off spot, Leah Kendall put a ball on the ground that was mishandled allowing Curry the cross home for the 1-0 advantage.
A batter later, Kayleigh Ayscue rocked a single into center that brought home Whittlesey and Kendall to inflate the lead to 3-0.
Since returning from injury in the first round of the playoffs, Ayscue has gone 11-for-21 with 10 runs batted in including one in all six postseason games.
Topsail picked up its first run of the series in the home half of the third.
Kennedy S