Explosive Fourth Inning Propels Bruisers to 11-2 Win

GPS faced Davidson Academy tonight in the winner's bracket semifinals of the double-elimination State Championship Tournament.

After a scoreless first inning, Morgan Che' Dodd put the Bruisers on the board with an infield hit, scoring Megan Givens who had doubled 2 batters prior.

Amy Campbell tripled in the 3rd, then scored on Jessica Phillips' single up the middle to extend the lead to 2-0.

Then the bats really got warmed up in the 4th: A leadoff single by Jackie Baird and a successful bunt by Tory Lewis gave GPS 2 baserunners. Dodd then popped out, and Whitney Hammond was thrown out at first after a bunt, though she advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd.

With 2 outs, the Bruisers rattled off 5 straight hits, including a 2-RBI double by Kristin Holloway, an RBI double by Campbell, and an RBI triple by Phillips.

When the dust settled, the Bruisers were in control 8-0 after 4 innings.

In the fifth, Davidson Academy scored 2 runs to cut the GPS lead to 8-2.

In the 6th, Campbell reached by error and Phillips walked to give the Bruisers 2 on base when Kamri Chester came to the plate. With a 2-2 count, Chester unloaded on a high fastball sending a towering shot well beyond the fence in left field, stretching the Bruiser lead to 11-2.

In the top of the 7th, the Bruisers gave up just one hit. A blooper snagged by reserve 2nd baseman Maddie Smith ended the game, sending the Bruisers into the winner's bracket final.

The Bruisers will face JPII Thursday night, game time approximately 7:00 pm CST.