Box Score

Savannah, Ga.----The top-seeded and fourth-ranked Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic rallied from a 3-0 deficit Saturday afternoon, winning 5-4 on a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth on day two of the 2013 NCAA Southeast Regional softball tournament. The Pirates improve to 38-8-1 and will take on Columbus State on Sunday. Wingate ends its season at 33-22-1.

Hannah Reppert and Shelby Duff each homered to lead the Armstrong attack. Alexis Mercer went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored for the Pirates.

Sophomore designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) had a homer and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Junior infielder Hayley Whitley (Monroe, N.C.) was two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman outfielder Shannen Adams (Ayden, N.C.) was two-for-four with a run scored.

Whitley led off the second inning with a single. After a sacrifice and a flyout, she would give the ‘Dogs a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch. Saliga followed with a two-run homer to right center to put Wingate on top 3-0.

Reppert connected on a solo homer in the fourth to cut the deficit to two. An RBI single from Celia Brome in the sixth made it 3-2.

The Pirates were trailing 3-2 in the final inning, with two outs and nobody on. Bridget Devlin doubled to left center, then scored on an RBI single from Mercer to tie it.

Wingate regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Adams started the frame with a single. She would score on Whitley’s RBI single to make it 4-3.

Armstrong had the answer, tying the game at four on an RBI single from Haley Ellis.

Duffy led off the ninth with a walk-off solo homer, giving the Pirates the dramatic victory.

Megan Barnwell got the win, allowing four runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings. Freshman right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 24-14. She allowed five runs on 13 hits in eight innings of work, striking out three.