HARTSVILLE – Keta Joyner hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to lift Hartsville past Hanahan 3-2 in the first round of the Class 3A lower state softball tournament Monday.
Joyner finished with two RBIs for the Red Foxes, who advance to play the winner of Gilbert and Berkeley in the winner’s bracket.
Hartsville’s Cayla Drotar threw a three-hitter with 14 strikeouts. Hanahan’s MacKenzie Dyson gave up seven hits and fanned eight. They combined to keep the game scoreless through four innings.
Hanahan broke through in the top of the fifth when Lauren Anderson delivered a two-out single to put the Hawks ahead 1-0.
Joyner answered with a two-out single in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game 1-1.
In the top of the ninth, Hanahan plated a run on an RBI groundout by Kendall Grubb for a 2-1 lead. Baylee Westbury followed with a base hit to center, which sent a runner charging home from second. Hartsville catcher Lace Wall initially bobbled the throw from center while applying the tag at the plate, but held on and the runner was ruled out.
Wall drove in the tying run in the bottom of the ninth with a single to left, setting up Joyner’s walk-off.
Hartsville is schedule to face the Gilbert/Berkeley winner Wednesday. The Indians and Stags face off Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
WACCAMAW- Tucker Perry struck out six, walked two and only allowed one run on eight hits as Waccamaw beat Bishop England 2-1 in the first round of the Class AA Lower State playoff.
Ethan Chastain came in to pinch hit in the sixth and his sacrifice fly to right field plated the Warriors winning run
Waccamaw will host Dillon tomorrow night with the first pitch set for 6:30.
