The North Duplin Lady Rebels continued their impressive postseason run with an exciting 8-7 victory over the Camden County Lady Bruins in the third round of the 2A State Softball Playoffs.
Coming into the matchup, North Duplin carried a strong 14-1 overall record under Head Coach Jaime Kylis, while Camden County entered at 12-11 under Head Coach John Barker. Both teams were coming off second-round playoff victories, setting the stage for an intense battle in front of the home crowd.
Lady Bruins Strike First
North Duplin opened the game on defense with pitcher No. 7 Lilly Fulghum in the circle and No. 27 Abigail Brown behind the plate. Camden County quickly showed its power at the top of the lineup. After No. 7 Lilly Fulghum recorded three strikeouts against the opening batter, Camden County’s No. 1 Ellie Barker earned a walk to reach first base.
Moments later, No. 25 Gizelle Bernal blasted a two-run home run over the fence to give the Lady Bruins an early 2-0 lead. Camden County continued to apply pressure with extra-base hits. Still, the Lady Rebels managed to limit further damage with strong defensive plays from No. 30 Hannah Gonzales, No. 7 Lilly Fulghum, and No. 2 Gracelyn Higginbotham.
Rebels Respond With Big First Inning
The Lady Rebels wasted little time answering back. Leading off for North Duplin, No. 2 Gracelyn Higginbotham energized the crowd with a double. No. 5 Wyllow Holmes followed with another double that brought home the Rebels’ first run of the night.
Later in the inning, No. 25 Gizelle Bernal delivered one of the biggest hits of the game, driving a double into right field to score two runs and give North Duplin the lead. The Rebels’ aggressive hitting and timely offense quickly shifted momentum in their favor.
Offensive Fireworks Continue
Camden County answered again in the second inning with a solo home run from No. 15 Addy Wold and several key base hits to regain momentum. However, North Duplin’s defense came through in key moments to prevent a larger inning.
The game remained a back-and-forth battle throughout the middle innings. In the bottom of the third, No. 9 Marissa Bernal crushed a solo home run over the fence to tie the game before the Lady Rebels added another run to reclaim the lead.
North Duplin later made a pitching change, bringing No. 2 Gracelyn Higginbotham into the circle. The adjustment proved important as the Lady Rebels continued making clutch defensive plays to stay within striking distance during Camden County rallies.
Clutch Hits Keep North Duplin Ahead
One of the biggest moments of the game came when No. 2 Gracelyn Higginbotham of the Lady Rebels launched a two-run home run in the fourth inning, bringing both herself and another runner home to extend North Duplin’s advantage.
Camden County continued to battle and eventually tied the score entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Lady Rebels once again responded under pressure. Pitcher No. 7 Lilly Fulghum stepped up at the plate and smashed a solo home run, giving North Duplin an 8-7 lead and igniting the home crowd. From there, the Rebels’ defense took control.
Lady Rebels Close Out the Victory
North Duplin delivered several key defensive stops late in the game. In the sixth inning, No. 7 Lilly Fulghum and pitcher No. 2 Gracelyn Higginbotham combined on multiple outs to shut down Camden County’s offense.
The Lady Bruins made one final push at the top of the seventh inning, but the Lady Rebels stayed composed. Defensive plays by pitcher No. 2 Gracelyn Higginbotham and first baseman No. 8 Ady Spence helped record two crucial outs before North Duplin secured the final out to seal the thrilling playoff victory.
With the 8-7 win, the North Duplin Lady Rebels advanced to the next round of the 2A State Softball Playoffs, continuing an impressive postseason run in front of their home fans.
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