MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. –
Mackenzie Conley delivered the go-ahead run in the top of the 12
th inning as Flagler College defeated Armstrong State University, 2-1, in a Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinal game Saturday afternoon at the Peeler Complex. Flagler advances to the Peach Belt Conference Championship, which will be played later this afternoon, against the winner of the North Georgia-Young Harris game.
This will be Flagler's first trip to the championship game since joining the Peach Belt in 2009-10.
The Saints, the No. 3 seed, improved their overall record to 37-18. The Pirates, the No. 2 seed, fell to 30-11 overall. Armstrong State will now wait for an at-large berth to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.
Whitney Woodard opened the top of the 12
th with a single to left field and promptly stole second base. Two batters later, Conley laced a single to right-center field to score Woodard with the eventual game-winning run.
Katelynn Smith (9-7), working in her sixth inning of relief, retired the Armstrong side in order in the bottom of the inning. Smith fired 5.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to earn the win. Smith allowed four hits and did not issue a walk.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pirates tied the score with two outs. Connor Weaver singled to right field to send Morgan Duff home.
In the second inning,
Maria Kappos continued her hot hitting with a two-out double down the left field line.
Morgan Murphy followed with a double to drive Kappos for the game's first run.
Conley,
Natalie Murphy and
Morgan Murphy each tallied two hits for the Saints while Kappos,
Morgan Murphy and
Maddy Murphy each doubled.
Logan Harrell, Weaver and Tazha Williams each collected two hits for the Pirates to combine for six of the team's 10 hits. Jane Trzaska had a double.
Marcano held the Pirates scoreless over her first six innings, but allowed the run in the bottom of the seventh. Marcano allowed six hits and struck out three batters. She issued four walks during her 6.2 innings in the circle.
Trzaska (14-6) suffered the loss for Armstrong State after surrendering the game-winning run. She allowed one run on six hits through 4.2 innings out of the bullpen.
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