Photo courtesy of the WVSSAC BIG HIT — Oak Glen players celebrate with Brayley Lash after one of her two homers against Independence that helped Oak Glen stay alive in the state tournament.

The Golden Bears dropped a tough loss in a pitcher’s duel between their ace Mattie Carney and top-seed Logan’s Myleigh Adkins in their first game of Day 2 of the Class AA state tournament, falling 1-0 in a fight to the last out.

Then, facing elimination on Thursday night, the Bears got their offense going early and even more strong pitching in a combined effort to top sixth-seeded Independence 8-0 by the run rule in six innings, earning the right to stay in the state capital another day.

“The game versus Logan was a great duel,” Oak Glen head coach Sherrie Garner said. “We missed stringing our hits together to get that one run. In a pitchers due you have to play for one run and I will be better prepared to battle with my decision making next round. The girls did all we asked of them.

“The game against Independence was efficient from the first inning to the last. The defense was solid behind Mattie and Dani and the bats were alive. Day 1 to 3 and we are still in the hunt. The girls are packed with fun and excitement looking forward to tomorrow.”

Photo courtesy of the WVSSAC STRONG DAY — Oak Glen's Mattie Carney fires a pitch. She combined to allow just one run over 10 innings of work on Thursday at the state tournament.

GAME 1

Squaring off with the top-ranked team in the state who had won four of their last five games by shutout, runs were sure to be at a premium — and they were indeed.

Adkins, a North Georgia commit with a season ERA of just 1.11, struck out nine batters and did not issue a walk in firing a complete game shutout.

The Bears did get four hits off of her and have some opportunities. Carney tripled in the first inning, but was stranded at third. Neveah Heath doubled in the fourth, but a diving catch by the Wildcats’ Lena Setser saved a run and kept the Bears off the board.

Logan then got what ended up being the lone run of the game in the bottom of the inning when Lilly Fleming singled, stole second, moved to third tagging up on a fly ball and then scored on a squeeze bunt by Addison Richardson.

Contributed GRADS RECOGNIZED — Oak Glen seniors Danica Holden, Marleah Lough, Brayley Lash and Macy Hartung were joined by coaches and supporters Joleigh Gasvoda, Sara Wright, Sherrie Garner, Howie Hartung and Rhonda Stipec after Thursday night's win, being recognized as having graduated during the state tournament. Oak Glen's commencement was on Thursday while the Bears were playing against Independence.

An inning later, Oak Glen got a nice catch from Danica Holden to keep the deficit at one, but the offense just never broke through.

Carney fired a gem in her own right in taking the tough-luck loss, striking out three and walking just one in going the distance.

GAME 2

Needing a win to stay alive, the Bears got off to a great start in the late game and earned the right to stick around.

Oak Glen scored a run each in the first two innings then broke things open with three in the third, ultimately adding to the lead until Brayley Lash’s second homer of the game brought about the early end.

Lash also hit a double in finishing 3 for 4 with three RBIs, giving her eight RBIs in three games at the state tournament.

Macy Hartung also drove in two runs, while Mikalyn Balch and Heath each tripled, Maleah Lough doubled and drove in a run in the second inning and Holden had two hits and an RBI that capped the big third inning. Carney also plating a run for the Bears with a sac fly that opened the scoring.

Lash’s first homer was a two-run shot in the third.

Carney fired the first four innings, striking out three without issuing a walk, while Holden came on and fired the last two innings to earn a save, not allowing a hit as the duo combined to throw a one-hit shutout with the season on the line.