CRESTVIEW — Niceville High School catcher Kendall Bennett came up big Thursday night as the Eagles traveled to Crestview for a District 2-7A softball game.
Bennett blasted a two-run home run in the third inning and drove in three runs as the Eagles beat the Bulldogs 6-2.
“Things didn’t start off with a good vibe to begin with,” Crestview Coach Holly Gibson said. “We had two bad innings and made a couple of errors.
“It was a tough loss.”
Niceville (4-2, 2-0) got off to a quick start when Raiven Bryant and Grace McIntosh led off the game with back-to-back singles off Crestview’s Taylor Rolison. Walks to Meredith Milan and Bennett loaded the bases.
With one out Hannah Gasaway singled to right to score McIntosh. But before the play was over the Bulldogs defense had turned a double play. Right fielder Taylor Bumgardner fired a strike to retire Milan at home.
Crestview catcher Hannah Dukes completed the double play by throwing out courtesy runner Dallas Harrelson at third base.
The Bulldogs (3-3, 1-1) threatened in the bottom of the first when Rolison was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and Dukes drew a walk. But Crestview was unable to capitalize on the early Eagle miscues.
Niceville picked up three more runs in the third. Bennett’s home run to deep left center field was the big blow of the inning. Gasasway also doubled and scored.
Crestview’s only two runs came in the bottom of the fourth.
Freshman Caitlyn Black had a two-run double to score Alyssa McLaughlin and Gabbie Riley. Mc:Laughlin got on base on a fielder’s choice and Riley reached on a walk.
Niceville added an insurance run in the sixth when Sydney Byrd singled and rounded the bases on a Crestview error.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview falls to Niceville in District 2-7A softball (PHOTOS)