Credit: James Lynch Jr. | The News Herald <\/p>\n
Lauren Hasson slips a glance towards the Freedom dugout as she rounds second base to see her teammates celebrating her two-run home run Friday versus Hibriten. <\/p>\n
By: KEVIN CARVER | Morganton News Herald Published: May 12, 2012 Updated: May 12, 2012 - 3:53 PM<\/p>\n
Lauren Hasson made the Freedom softball teams first-round playoff vision a reality, and Lindsey Auton completed the job as the Lady Patriots erased an early deficit to beat Hibriten at home, 8-4, on Friday. <\/p>\n
Both Hasson and Auton posted key home runs in a victory that was Freedoms first in postseason play since the 2008 group did so in the 4A playoffs. <\/p>\n
Freedom (13-9), who spotted Hibriten (9-16) two runs each in the top of the first and third innings, turned things around in the bottom of the third. <\/p>\n
Kayla Poteat earned a one-out walk before Hasson took a turn at bat. On a 1-1 count, Hasson (2 for 3, three RBIs) torched a two-run homer that tailed just inside the left-field foul pole. After a walk to Paula Davis, Auton punished a shot into the centerfield gap for a double to cross Davis, cutting the deficit to 4-3. <\/p>\n
Filling in for Cassie Saunders (illness) at second base was Poteat, who in turn became the silent hero. She lined a single to center in the fourth and Hasson followed by turning on the first pitch she saw for a double to left. The hit tied the game 4-4, and all the momentum appeared to go to Freedom. <\/p>\n
In the next frame, Auton made sure it stayed that way. Megan Kirksey and Cassidy Smith connected on back-to-back base hits to lead off the bottom of the fifth, forcing Hibriten starting pitcher Bailey Land out of the circle. <\/p>\n
The Panther pitching change backfired, as Auton (3 for 4, four RBIs) clobbered a 1-1 offering for a massive three-run home run to dead centerfield, giving Freedom the lead for good. Auton finished up just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Original post: <\/p>\n
Freedom powers back to overcome Hibriten, 8-4<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Credit: James Lynch Jr. Continue reading