SALEMBURG — North Duplin cranked up its offense during the first inning and rolled to a 22-3, mercy-rule romp over Carolina 1A softball rival Lakewood on Tuesday evening.
The Rebels sent 15 batters to the plate and plated 10 runs.
Addy Higginbotham (three RBI) and Lilly Fulghum (2 RBI) pounded out four hits apiece. Reece Outlaw swatted a two-run home run, and ended the day with two hits and three RBI.
Lead-off batter Iala Overton went 3-for-3 with two RBI.
M’chelle Jaco and Riley Hatch each rapped out two hits. Kasey Jones, Sarah Tucker (RBI), Melany Sanchez and Ady Spence each contributed one hit.
Fulghum emerged as the winning pitcher. The right-hander gave up six hits, walked one and retired three Leopards on strikeouts.
The Rebel defense two turned double plays.
North Duplin posted its eighth mercy-rule decision of the season and improved to 18-0 against Lakewood since 2014.
Winners of 11 straight regular-season conference games, the Rebels (12-2 overall, 5-0 Carolina) return home Thursday to face Union. First pitch is 6 p.m.
Baseball
North Duplin overcame five defensive miscues and claimed a 9-5, nine-inning win over Carolina 1A rival Lakewood on Tuesday evening.
Tied at 5-5 through eight innings, the Rebels seized control in the ninth.
Hunt Pate started the game-clinching rally with a lead-off walk.
Tanner Kornegay and Brady Byrd each provided a single, while teammates Austin Duff and Esteban Santos Clark each drew a free pass. A passed ball and two errors also contributed to the four-run outburst.
Noble, Kornegay (RBI), Duff (three RBI) and Tyler Johnsey pounded out two hits apiece. Pate and Byrd finished with one hit apiece.
Pate and Noble each stole two bases.
Erik Rosas earned the mound win in relief of Noble. The right-hander provided 2 2/3 innings of one-hit, six-strikeout relief.
Noble logged 12 strikeouts, yielded five runs (one earned) on one hit and issued four walks.
The Rebels (15-2 overall, 6-0 Carolina) return home Thursday for a doubleheader against league rival Union. Game time is 5 p.m.
