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Eagles split Saturday softball
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Eastside split its two softball games Saturday, with two almost completely solid performances.

In the first game, a 10-7 win over Lovett, the Eagles (7-3) took a 10-1 lead before giving up six runs in one inning. In the second game, Eastside fell 4-2 to Morgan County but looked equal to the Bulldogs with the exception of a few pitches.

Bailey Stewart went 3 for 4 against Lovett, but no one stepped up with a star-like performance against Morgan County.

The Eagles took the first lead of the game against the Bulldogs, as Caitlyn Ray was hit by a pitch with one out. She then moved to second on a hit by Savannah Upshaw and to third on a throw that was too high for the third baseman.

After the Bulldogs' error put Ray on third, she scored on a wild pitch by Madison County's Victoria Thomas.

The Eagles added two more hits in the bottom of the second, one by Stewart and one by Reese Rogers but couldn't capitalize, leaving two runners stranded. That was the biggest production of the game for Eastside, as all the other balls put into play - hard hit balls - were fielded by a strong Morgan County defense.

"It wasn't anything we did wrong," Eastside coach Jason Stokes said. "It was just hitting the ball right at people and they made most of the plays. Some games don't go your way.
After the first inning's high throw from the first baseman, Morgan County didn't commit an error the rest of the game.

Eastside didn't commit any errors throughout the game, but Morgan County didn't need the help as it capitalized on the few chances it had.

In the top of the third, Rogers got through the first two outs on ground balls, before Dee Pittman hit a single to right field. After Pittman stole second, Alisha Frierson hit a double to score her. Following Pittman and Frierson's hit, Aubree Cox drove home Frierson with a single.

The two teams traded scoreless innings for the next two before Morgan County struck again.

Cox led off the top of the sixth as Rogers threw her a changeup that stayed in the middle of the strike zone. Cox connected on the ball that ended up over the center field fence.

The next batter up, Laree Van Orden, followed suit, putting her offering, what was supposed to be a drop ball, near where Cox's landed.

"We didn't play a bad game they just got hits and those home runs you can't really do anything about," Stokes said.

Eastside didn't let the 4-1 hole they were in during the seventh inning stand as the leadoff batter, Stewart reached as she was hit by a pitch. After a passed ball she move to second.
After Madison Harper struck out, Morgan County's catcher thought it was the final out and threw the ball down, allowing Stewart to go to third.

Madison Whiteset came in to hit for Rogers and put a grounder to the second baseman, allowing Stewart to score.

However, Eastside couldn't develop the rally further, as Taz Powell and Alexis Dibuccio hit into ground outs.

The Eagles begin their Region 8-AAAA schedule Tuesday when Lumpkin County comes to Eastside.