MARTINSVILLE – Martinsville exploded for back-to-back five-run innings while smacking Bedford North Lawrence 12-7 during high school softball action on Thursday.
The Artesians (13-16) cranked out 13 hits and took advantage of four BNL errors and four hit batters in rainy conditions to score five unearned runs. BNL slipped to 19-11 with its second straight loss.
“We didn’t play well but I’m proud of the way we fought the conditions,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “It was slick, the ball was wet. It’s frustrating but we have to shake it off. We have to play better.”
BNL powered to a 2-2 deadlock when Tori Nikirk singled and Kendall Graves blasted a home run in the third. But the Artesians scored five runs in the third (with two BNL errors playing a key factor), then added five more in the fourth as Mackenzie Williams cracked a two-run single and Addison Massey-Deckard followed with a RBI double.
The Stars battled back with two runs in the fifth, then flexed some muscle as Nikirk, Ava Ratliff and Graves crushed three straight home runs in the sixth.
Graves finished 3 for 4 with the two bombs and 3 RBIs. Nikirk had three hits and scored three runs. Destiny Forler had three hits and Massey-Deckard had two hits and three RBIs for Martinsville.
BNL will host Southridge on Saturday.
