Behind a stellar pitching performance from Ellie Southern, the Forbush softball team took down Starmount with a 6-0 win in East Bend on Monday evening.
The Lady Falcons also gained a measure of redemption after they dropped a 6-3 decision to Starmount on March 14.
Southern, who had one of Forbush’s seven hits in the game, kept the Lady Rams at bay. The freshman struck out 13 and allowed just one hit and walked two in a complete-game shutout.
Layken Mathis was one of the few Lady Rams (6-1) to find success against Southern as the junior drew a pair of walks and reached on an error.
One of Mathis’ free passes gave Starmount its best chance to break through on the scoreboard as it trailed 5-0.
Mathis’ walk put Baylee Childress, who reached on an error, in scoring position with one out in the top of the fourth.
Southern regained her composure and induced a Hannah Hall ground out, but Hall’s sacrifice bunt did the job as it advanced Childress to third base.
But the freshman shut the door as she struck out Peyton Howell to end the inning.
After the walk to Mathis, Southern retired 11 of the last 12 batters she faced. Mathis was the only player to reach base as she reached on an error to lead off the seventh.
Morgan Lawson had the Lady Rams’ only hit of the game — a two-out single in the first inning.
Forbush’s bats backed Southern with a five-run third inning; it was headlined by RBI singles from Virginia Crews and Aria Wilson.
Crews, Wilson and Korbyn Brown all scored on an error to make it 5-0. Forbush (5-3) tacked on one more run in the bottom of the fifth.
Arden Finney led the Lady Falcons, who resumed Foothills 2A Conference play against West Wilkes on Tuesday night (and will travel to the Lady Blackhawks on Friday), with a 2-for-3 performance.
In addition to Wilson, Southern and Crews, Brown and Kiki Wall had one hit apiece.
Summer Fontana took the loss for the Lady Rams, who hosted Mount Airy on Tuesday and travel to Elkin on Friday at 6 p.m.
