Newton Citizen

COLUMBUS - The Lady Eagles played on the edge in the second day of the Class AAA state softball tournament before falling out of contention.

Both of Eastside's second-day games went to extra innings, winning one and losing one, before being eliminated from the competition.

Eastside won the first game against Creekview 9-5 before losing to Lakeview-Ft. Oglethrope 1-0 in its second game of the day.

Against Creekview, the Lady Eagles trailed 3-0 after finishing the first inning of play. They came back to cut the Lady Grizzlies lead to two runs making it 3-1 after the top of the second inning.

After tying the game in the third, Creekview jumped on top of the Lady Eagles taking a 5-3 lead in the fourth.

However, Eastside refused to concede, tying the game in the fifth sending the game into extra innings after a scoreless two innings during regulation.

Eastside eliminated Creekview from the tournament scoring four runs in the eighth inning while holding the Lady Grizzlies scoreless.

"We threw the ball around," Eastside coach Jason Stokes said. "They could've buckled and gave up after the first inning easily."

In the Lakeview-Ft. Oglethrope game, both teams defense stood to the challenge sending the game into extra innings scoreless.

After Eastside failed to score, the Lady Warriors bunted the game-winning run to third base. Eastside intentionally loaded the bases, making the force out at home plate a possibility.

However, the next batter bunted the ball between the shortstop and third baseman to score the run in the bottom of the eighth, giving the Lady Warriors the win.