Telegraph Staff Writer
Taylor Reddish hit an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth that proved to be the eventual difference in the Bradford High School softball team’s 10-7 win over visiting Buchholz on April 8.
It was a 1-1 game until Bradford scored six runs in the third. Madison Highland drew a leadoff walk. Two outs later, she scored on an Allie Funderburk single. After Reddish singled and Makayla Moore was hit by a pitch, Masey Padgett hit a two-run single. Takeirra Bakken was hit by a pitch, with Moore later scoring on a passed ball. Spratlin walked to load the bases. Highland and Kiersten Hodges each drew a walk to force a run in.
In the fourth inning, Funderburk walked and scored on Reddish’s double to make the score 8-1. Reddish later scored on an error to give the Tornadoes an eight-run cushion.
Funderburk and Reddish went 2 for 2 and 2 for 3, respectively. Reddish had two RBI, while Funderburk had one.
Padgett finished with two RBI, while Highland and Hodges each had one.
Starting pitcher Cassidy Spratlin gave up two runs on eight hits through five innings. Reddish gave up three hits in two innings of relief.
Bradford entered the game off a 5-4 win over visiting Suwannee on April 7 in which Funderburk scored the winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh.
The Tornadoes scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the first. Reddish reached on a double. Then, Hannah McFarland, after falling behind 1-2 in the count, took two straight balls before hitting a home run over the fence in center to put Bradford ahead 2-1.
It was a 3-3 game when Suwannee scored a run in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Rylie Blankenship and Funderburk reached on a walk and a single, respectively. McFarland hit a single to score Blankenship and even the score at 4-4. Funderburk advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring the game winner on a passed ball.
McFarland went 3 for 4 with three RBI, while Bakken and Hodges each went 2 for 3. All three batters hit doubles.
Reddish, who went 2 for 4, earned the win in the circle, giving up seven hits in a complete-game effort.
