Harnett Central took a pair of varsity wins over visiting Tri-County Six 3-A Conference opponent Southern Lee in girls soccer and softball, but the Cavaliers prevented the sweep with a win on the baseball field.

In soccer, senior Braelyn Barnes scored with 5:16 left to lift Central to a 5-4 victory, the Trojans’ first in conference play.

“We blew two two-goal leads,” said Harnett Central soccer coach Nick Brommer. “But I’m proud that they battled back and it was good to get the win.”

Barnes had four goals to power the Trojans (3-3, 1-3 TCSC). Sophomore Austin Bowling provided one goal.

“(Barnes) was dangerous all night,” Brommer said. “When she got in on goal she finished her chances.”

Barnes scored a pair in the first half to give Central the early 2-0, but the Cavaliers (2-4, 1-3) scored just before the half to cut it to 2-1 at the break and scored again shortly after the start of the second half to tie it 2-2.

Central scored a pair of quick goals around the 17-minute mark. Bowling delivered a corner kick that deflected off of the goalie and went across the line for a score. Barnes followed shortly after with her third goal of the night.

“That (Bowling’s goal and Barnes’ quick follow-up) was a real awesome moment and good for the team,” Brommer said. “I thought we could have held on up by two then, but I guess we needed one more after that.”

After the Cavaliers scored a pair of quick goals around the 10-minute mark to tie it again, Barnes delivered her fourth goal of the night and Central’s defense held off all of Southern Lee’s attempts to answer.

Both teams are off until April 10, when Central hosts conference and county rival Western Harnett (3-5, 1-3) and Southern Lee is at conference foe Triton (4-3, 1-3).

“We’ve just got to keep working hard on the training ground to try and build on this momentum,” Brommer said.

HC closes softball in five innings

In softball, Central routed Southern Lee 12-0 in five innings.

“We kind of had a slower start, but the girls made their adjustments and we were able to put the bat on the ball and get some runs across the plate,” said Central softball coach Lauren Taylor. “We’re still working on trying to make our adjustments earlier on instead of waiting a couple of innings. We’re slowly getting there.”

The win, along with Triton’s loss at Union Pines, puts the Trojans (6-3, 4-0) alone in first place in the conference standings.

Fallon Wimberly recorded the complete game shutout pitching for Central, yielding no runs on five hits, no walks and one hit batter, with three strikeouts. She also led all hitters with two hits, a double and a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.

Alexis Carroll had two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Kolby Medlin had two hits, including a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Ansley Lee had two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Lyndsey Brewer had two doubles, one RBI and one run scored. Kylee Frailey and Anna Ausley scored two runs apiece. Tanner Williford scored once.

Isabel Poole had two hits to lead the Cavaliers (0-9, 0-4).

Central scored three runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and eight in the fifth.

Wimberly led off the fifth inning with a double and ended the fifth inning with a three-run home run to end the game on the 10-run rule.

Harnett Central travels to South Johnston on Thursday. South took an 8-1 season-opening win at Central on Feb. 28.

Southern Lee’s next game is at home against Overhills on April 9.

Cavs get baseball win

Southern Lee’s lone varsity win came in the baseball game, topping Central 9-0.

“We’re right there on the cusp of being great,” said Central baseball coach Lance Honeycutt. “These guys have got to want it more than anybody else. We want it so bad for them and the parents want it so bad for them. They’ve got to want it. That’s the bottom line.

“These kids, they’ve got every bit of the ability to be successful and be great. They’ve just got to take it by the reins and go with it. I know they’ve got it in them, they’ve just got to want it a little more. I’m proud of them one way or the other, but I didn’t come here to lose ball games. I came here to win. I put the best nine out there that I feel like is going to give us a chance, they’ve just got to want it. When they do, they’re going to be very successful.”

Baker Nelson had two hits and Austin Swan and Dylan Owens had one hit apiece for the Trojans, who slipped to 2-2 in league play.

Thomas Harrington had two hits, one RBI and one run scored, Tanner Seagroves had two hits and one RBI and Luke Craig, who formerly attended Harnett Central, had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored to lead the Cavaliers (8-3, 4-0).

Southern Lee scored two runs in the second inning, four in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.

Cary rallies

Harnett Central took a 6-5 nonconference varsity baseball loss at Cary on Wednesday despite leading 5-2 after batting in the fifth.

The Trojans (3-7) outhit the Imps 9-7 but were charged with three errors to one for the hosts.