EAGLEVILLE UNLEASHES THIRD-INNING TSUNAMI, DROWNS HUNTLAND 13-0

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Lady Eagles turned Wednesday night's neutral site contest into a statement game, erupting for 12 runs in a catastrophic third inning to secure a dominant 13-0 mercy-rule victory over the shell-shocked Lady Hornets in the Region 5A Championship.

Eagleville's Addisyn Linton wasted no time setting the tone, lacing an RBI double in the first inning to give the Eagles an early 1-0 advantage. But what appeared to be a tight pitchers' duel suddenly morphed into batting practice in the third frame.

The floodgates opened with Madi Kendrick's sharp RBI single up the middle. Presley Gardner followed with a booming two-run double that rattled the left-field fence. Ellie Nguyen kept the line moving with another RBI double, and Linton, not to be outdone, collected her second double of the night to drive in another run.

When the dust settled, Eagleville had sent 16 batters to the plate, collected eight hits, and capitalized on four costly Huntland errors. The Lady Hornets' defense fell under the pressure, with six unearned runs crossing the plate in the inning.

In the circle, Madison Davenport was nothing short of magnificent, crafting a three-inning no-hitter with six strikeouts and just one walk. Linton closed things out with a perfect frame of relief, capping a stellar two-way performance.

Huntland's Kinah Mason took the loss, surrendering 13 runs (only one earned) on nine hits across three innings of work. The Lady Hornets never found their footing, failing to record a hit and committing multiple defensive miscues.

The Lady Eagles' defense, meanwhile, played error-free softball behind their pitchers. Brinli Bain anchored the defense with eight flawless chances in the field.

The Huntland Lady Hornets will advance to sub-state play, traveling to Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT, with a state tournament berth on the line.