By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Ryle fast-pitch softball team lost a one-run game in the opening round of the state tournament on Thursday at Jack Fisher Park in Owensboro.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Warren East scored the winning run on a bunt down the third-base line to come away with a 3-2 victory and advance to the quarterfinals. Ryle drops to the elimination bracket and needs to beat Louisville Butler on Friday morning to keep its season alive.
Making its first state tournament appearance since 2012, Ryle did not get a hit until the fourth inning when senior Maclai Branson blasted her 17th home run of the season to tie the score at 1-1.
Warren East pitcher Katie Gardner hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to put her team back on top. But the Raiders tied it once again in the sixth inning when Branson scored on a ground out by Morgan Smith.
A bunt by Haily Hymer scored the winning run for Warren East in the bottom of the seventh. Kya Elkin was on third base and slid across the plate ahead of the tag.
Ryle had 14 batters strike out during the game and managed to get only three hits. The loss dropped the Raiders’ record to 23-7.