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Andalusia earned its second straight shutout and claimed the 5A Area 3 softball championship over Charles Henderson with a 15-0 win in front of its home crowd on Friday, April 25.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 29-8 on the season, while the Lady Trojans dropped to 9-24.

Kailey Jackson retired the side in order on just 13 pitches in the top of the first. Taya Newton led off the home half with a single, stole second and third, and scored the initial run on an error. Austin Seal followed with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jackson was then hit by a pitch before McKenzie Barrow knocked an RBI single and gave the Lady Bulldogs a 3-0 lead after one inning.

Jackson set down the Lady Trojans with a 1-2-3 top of the second. Lacey Wells opened the bottom of the frame with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Stella Wells. L. Wells went to third on a wild pitch as Newton walked and put runners at the corners with one out. Sarah Katherine Reese reached on a defensive miscue that plated L. Wells. Newton crossed home on a passed ball, and Kaylee Wood scored on a wild pitch for a 6-0 lead after two innings.

Charles Henderson was unable to solve Jackson who struck out Chloe Makau and Bailey Jones in the visiting third.

Andalusia erupted for nine runs in the home half and ended the game early. Jessa Ann Dubose, Blakelynn Bass, and L. Wells each walked. Dubose scored on a wild pitch, while an error sent Bass and L. Wells to the plate. S. Wells also reached on a defensive blunder before Newton launched a two-run homer for an 11-0 lead. Kali-rae Dozier walked and scored on another error after Jackson singled and took third. Jackson came home on a wild pitch as Barrow and Valexey Romero scored following back-to-back hit batters with the bases loaded.

Newton finished 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Barrow was also 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs. Jackson and L. Wells each finished 1-fr-1 with two runs scored. Jackson struck out four in three shutout innings for the win.

The Lady Bulldogs now turn their attention to the South Regional at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex with their first game scheduled for Monday, May 5, at 10:45 a.m.