SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Petersburg stayed in the Class AA state tournament winner’s bracket with a 9-1 win over Sissonville in five innings on Thursday at Little Creek Park.
The Vikings (26-5), seeded second, moved into the winner’s bracket final against top-seeded Logan (23-7) scheduled Thursday evening, time permitting.
Petersburg began its state tournament run with a miraculous comeback, overcoming a nine-run deficit to defeat Lincoln, 14-12, late Wednesday night.
Miley Tingler was the star at the plate for Petersburg Thursday, starting the scoring with a two-run triple in the first inning and adding a two-run home run in the second.
Ella Markwell went 2 for 3 with a double, Shyane Tawney doubled, and Lacey Moyers singled twice.
Gracie Carpenter pitched a complete game in the circle, allowing a run on three hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked one.
Sissonville’s Jozey Wilson also spun a complete game in defeat. Jayme Robinson drove in the club’s lone run.
Petersburg overcame multiple rain delays and two big deficits spanning four hours to defeat Lincoln on Wednesday.
The Vikings trailed 9-0 and 12-4 but found a way to victory.
The Cougars scored seven runs in the second inning.
Not including an intentional walk, Lincoln had five consecutive batters reach with two outs.
Petersburg rallied back, scoring four in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
Ella Chew, who is committed to Potomac State, sent a two-run home run to left in the bottom of the fourth.
Two innings later, Chew gave the Vikings its first lead on a bases-clearing double to center.
She finished 4 for 4 with eight RBIs, hitting three doubles and a homer.
Two pitches later, Markwell extended the lead on a double to left.
Markwell, Tawney and Tingler each had two hits.
Kinsley Crites pitched 3 1/3 shutout innings in relief with three strikeouts to earn the win.
Kennedy Linville and Kerstyn Leggett led the Cougars with three hits each.
East Hardy ends 10-13
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — East Hardy was knocked out of the Class A state tournament with a five-inning 12-4 loss to Pendleton County on Thursday at Little Creek Park.
Pendleton scored 12 runs on six hits, six walks and seven errors and secured the run rule with a six-run sixth frame.
Susan Vincell led Pendleton with a double at the plate and a complete game in the circle. Vincell allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits with nine strikeouts and four walks.
Paylynn Rexrode had two hits and scored two runs for East Hardy (10-13).
University 7, Keyser 1
KEYSER, W.Va. — Keyser fell to Maddie Campbell and University in a tune-up game on Thursday.
The lone run by the Golden Tornado (23-5) came on a solo home run by Bibs Felton in the fourth inning.
That was the only damage to Campbell’s gem in the circle, as she struck out 12 across seven innings, allowing three hits and walking none.
Maddie Shaver also hit a solo home run for University.
Keyser plays another tune-up game at Morgantown on Friday at 6 p.m. before beginning its Class AAA state tournament run against Point Pleasant on Tuesday at Little Creek Park in South Charleston, West Virginia.