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Both teams gave it all they had in a varsity softball rivalry game as Andalusia edged Straughn, 8-5, behind a three-run sixth inning Thursday.

Abbey Glidewell doubled to right with two outs in the top of the first. Maggie Furr battled back for a strikeout and ended the inning. Abbi Hataway only needed eight pitches and retired the Lady Bulldogs (18-12) in order in the bottom half. Callie Carter opened the second with a single through the left side. Maggie came back and picked up the next three outs to keep the Lady Tigers (3-12) off the scoreboard. Ashlee Findley was hit by a pitch in the home portion and stole second. After Findley moved up to third on a wild pitch, she scored on an error. Hataway set the next three batters down in order and kept the score 1-0 after two innings.

SHS responded with a three-run inning and took the lead. Melonie Harris opened with a triple to the gap in left. Hanna Newman and Kyleigh Jackson each bunted successfully and loaded the bases. Hataway helped her own cause with a two-run single and scored Harris and Newman. Kaitlyn McVay kept the inning alive on a two-out error as Kyleigh Bennett hit a rocket to short for an RBI single. Hataway scored for a 3-1 lead, but AHS rallied in the bottom half. Alana Wheeler led off with a double to left and moved to third on a ground out. Maggie drove home Wheeler and cut the deficit to 3-2 on a groundout. Taya Newton laced an RBI single to left and scored Erin Riley who also singled. That left the score 3-3 with three frames complete.

Straughn put runners at the corners in the fourth on a bunt single from Newman and walk to Glidewell. Maggie picked up a groundout and ended the threat. Andalusia then answered and grabbed the lead again. Maggie led off with a single and scored the fourth run on a passed ball. Riley earned a two-out bases-loaded walk as the score moved to 5-3. Glidewell made a nifty running grab for the third out of the inning.

The Lady Tigers had their own response in the fifth and promptly evened the score at 5-5. Carter took a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single from Bennett. McKenzie Castleberry then sent both runners up a base on a groundout. Harris stroked a two-run single up the middle as Carter and Bennett both scored. Findley hit the first pitch of the bottom half into left for a ringing double. The defense shined when Newman caught a fly ball and threw a strike to third for the second out. Olivia Mikel had a single, but the Lady Bulldogs were unable to score.

Mollie Furr took over in the circle in the top of the sixth. Glidewell reached on a one-out error, and Hataway followed with a single. Mollie rallied back and retired the next two batters to preserve the tie. AHS used the momentum and pushed across three runs in the home half. Olivia Cravey singled up the middle and scored Wheeler for a 6-5 lead. Maggie then added an RBI single and plated Cravey. Newton doubled to center and drove in Maggie as the score moved to 8-5 after six innings. Mollie worked quickly in the top of the seventh as SHS went 1-2-3 and the game ended.

In the JV game, Andalusia won 4-0.

Hataway, Bennett, and Harris all led Straughn at the plate with 2-for-4 efforts. Hataway pitched all six innings and allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits. Wheeler paced Andalusia and went 2-for-2, as Newton also finished with a multi-hit day at 2-for-4. Maggie finished with a no-decision and allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings. Mollie picked up the win in relief with two innings of one-hit ball.

SHS returns to action this weekend at the McKenzie Tournament and then Monday, April 11 at home in an area game against Ashford at 4:30 p.m. AHS travels to Pleasant Home the same day for a county matchup at the same time.