Central edges East Wake in first round softball

Host Harnett Central won its fifth straight one-run game in the first round of the NCHSAA 3-A softball playoffs on Tuesday night.

The Trojans, seeded No. 10 in the Eastern bracket, improved to 16-8 with a 4-3 win over No. 23 East Wake (9-9).

Ansley Lee had an RBI single that brought in Anna Ausley with the winning run in the seventh.

Fallon Wimberly came to the circle in relief of Lee, the starting pitcher.

Wimberly was the winning pitcher. In two innings, she gave up no runs on two hits and no walks, with two strikeouts. Lee started the contest and went five innings, yielding three earned runs on six hits and no walks, with five strikeouts.

Lee and Shelbie Gill each had one hit and one RBI. Kylee Frailey had one hit and one run scored. Kolby Medlin had one RBI. Wimberly, Ausley and Lyndsey Brewer scored one run apiece.

Ashlyn Walter had two hits, Ricki Bartley, Faith Tootle and Gracen Sessoms each had one hit and one run scored and I’Kesha Little, Amaya Cerruti and Amiya Sanford had one hit apiece for the Warriors.

With two out in the bottom of the seventh, Ausley drew a walk, advanced on a hit from Gill and scored the game-winner on a hit from Lee.

Central, the regular-season and tournament champions in the Tri-County Six Conference, will travel to No. 7 Eastern seed Southern Nash (22-4) in the second round on Friday for a 6 p.m. game.