Stratford softball snuffs out Windsor comeback for 6-5 home win

The Stratford Academy Eaglettes survived a late comeback from the Windsor Academy Lady Knights Wednesday evening to win 6-5. The Eagelettes held a 6-0 lead after the fourth inning until an explosive fifth brought the Lady Knights back into the game.

Stratford got key contributions from several hitters in the fourth, including a three-run bomb from Hatsy Russell, to eventually secure the win. The Eaglettes improved to 7-7 overall and have a 3-0 record in GIAA 4A/3A District 6. Windsor fell to 4-5 overall.

“We played well, then we kinda moved around, kicked around a little bit towards the end and allowed them to get some extra outs in the inning. Anyway, we came out with a win, and a win is good — I’ll take it,” Stratford head coach Rob Fitzpatrick said.

Pitcher Hayden Craddock started the game for the Eagelettes, but a pitching change for first baseman Cordtney Galoia was made early in the second inning. Galoia remained in the circle for the rest of the game.

The first two innings were scoreless until the Lady Knights threatened to score with loaded bases early in the third after a walk and two hits, but Galoia got out of the jam to end the top of the third. 

The scoring started in the bottom of the third when catcher Knox Moore got a base hit, followed by Galoia to put runners on base. Stratford tallied a 1-0 lead shortly after a double from shortstop Reagan Ray. 

Russell was up next and hit her three-run homer to extend Stratford’s lead to 4-0. The Eagelettes followed up in the bottom of the fourth when leftfielder Kylee Shelley ran home on a Craddock double, extending the lead to 5-0. Galoia continued the inning with a base hit, sending Craddock home for a 6-0 lead.

Despite the large deficit, the Lady Knights clawed their way back into the game in the top of the fifth. Centerfielder Callie Edwards got a leadoff knock to start things off for Windsor, followed by another hit from pitcher Abby Price. 

Shortstop Maddie Price also got a hit, though Edwards was tagged out trying to advance to third base. An error from Craddock then loaded the bases off a hit from third baseman Kyndall Bowen.

Despite a big second out at home plate from Moore, the Lady Knights found a way to score two runs with a knock from second baseman Lily Perry. They cut the 6-0 deficit down to two runs after another hit from first baseman Rayne Wesson, making it 6-4.

After Stratford went quietly in the bottom half of the fifth, Windsor’s right fielder Taylor Black started the sixth inning with a leadoff triple. Abby Price then drove Black in with a base hit, cutting Stratford’s lead down to one run. The Eagelettes had runners on first and third in the bottom of the sixth, but were left stranded to end the inning. 

In the final inning, Windsor’s Rayne Wesson reached and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. Left fielder Hadley Hill followed with a base hit, putting runners on the corners for the Lady Knights. In the end, Galoia got the final outs for a Stratford win.

While Windsor fought their way back in the game, Fitzpatrick kept the team focused and ready to make the right plays.  

“I’m never mad at an error, I just want to make sure the girls don’t make the mental errors,” Fitzpatrick said. “We work hard on just catching, throwing, and making routine plays. If you stick to that, then you can have a lot of success.”

With their seventh win of the season, the Eaglettes grabbed some momentum ahead of a key matchup with Tattnall Square Academy on Thursday. Windsor will travel to Flint River Academy on Thursday before another road game against rival Central Fellowship on Friday.

Pariss Nicholson is a student at Mercer University working with The Melody as an intern through the Reg Murphy Center for Collaborative Journalism.