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Five early runs proved to be the deciding factor as Opp claimed a 6-2 win at Andalusia in varsity softball action on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

The Lady Bobcats improved their season record to 3-2, while the Lady Bulldogs fell to 6-2 on the year.

Bradleigh Lanier drew a one-out walk in the visiting first and scored when Addison Moseley singled and moved to third on an error. Taylor Adams immediately followed with an RBI single as Moseley crossed the plate. Kailey Jackson struck out Autumn Green before Rylie Kate Thrash plated Madi Wilson with an RBI single and gave Opp a 3-0 lead.

Taya Newton reached on a throwing miscue in the home portion of the frame but was tagged out at second. Andalusia then put two runners aboard when Sarah Katherine Reese walked, and Jackson reached on a dropped fly ball. However, Lanier rallied back with strikeouts of Jessa Ann Dubose and Blakelynn Bass as the score remained 3-0 at the end of an inning.

Crislyn Birge led off the top of the second with an infield single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Jackson struck out Jaidyn Ivey and Lanier, but Moseley and Adams knocked RBI singles and opened up a 5-0 margin for the Lady Bobcats.

Lanier retired the first two batters in the bottom half before the Lady Bulldogs put together a two-out rally. McKenzie Barrow had a single and scored on an RBI triple from Stella Wells. An errant throw sent Wells to the plate and cut the deficit to 5-2 at the end of two innings.

The two pitchers settled into a rhythm and posted zeroes over the next two frames. Jackson worked around a two-out single in the top of the fourth to Moseley. Lanier brought the heat and struck out the side twice.

Opp extended the lead to 6-2 when Wilson scored on a two-out error in the visiting fifth. Newton reached on another defensive miscue in the home half, but Andalusia was unable to capitalize and trailed by four after five innings. Neither side posed a threat in the final two innings.

Moseley went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs for the Lady Bobcats at the plate. Birge finished 2-for-3 and scored a run, while Adams went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Lanier recorded the complete-game win and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with 14 strikeouts and two walks.

Barrow and Wells were each 1-for-3 in the batter’s box for the Lady Bulldogs. Jackson took the loss and gave up six runs (three earned) on nine hits with six strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.

Both teams return to the field on Thursday, Feb. 27, when Andalusia travels to Kinston, and Opp visits Wicksburg. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m.