CUMMING, Ga. -- Success came quickly and abundantly for the South Forsyth softball team in its first-round state playoff doubleheader against Newton on Tuesday. On the second pitch of the first game, Makenna Segal whacked a solo home run to left field. Eleven batters later, South had put up a quick seven runs on the Rams. 

The War Eagles won that first game 10-2 in six innings and took the second one 13-0 in four, which was punctuated by a 10-run fourth inning. 

South's hitters kept the ball down better in the second game, and they found plentiful solid contact and gaps in Newton's defense. Pitcher Lauren Baccari also fixed the control issues she struggled with in the first game and retired all 12 batters she saw in the second. 

The War Eagles' win sets up a second-round series at Mill Creek, one of the best teams in Class AAAAAAA, with a 26-3 record. The Hawks beat South 9-4 earlier in the year.

The losses end the Lady Rams' season with a 15-11 mark and plenty of optimism looking ahead to coach Virginia Tucker-Smith's second year back with the team. 

Check back into covnews.com and our weekend print edition for a full feature story and recap of Newton's softball season.