WASHINGTON — Eastern Randolph plated a pair of runs in the top of the first inning here on Friday night and sophomore Savannah Beaver hurled a one-hitter to ignite the No. 4 seed Wildcats to a 3-0 triumph over No. 1 seed and previously unbeaten Washington in fourth round action of the NCHSAA 2A State Playoffs.
Eastern Randolph (22-4) advances to take on No. 2 seed South Granville (17-2), a 6-5 victor over North Johnston that same night, in the best-of-3 Eastern Finals slated to begin in Creedmoor on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. The second contest will be in Ramseur on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. with an if necessary contest to take place back in Creemoor on Friday night at 7 p.m. if need be.
Brooklyn Rush had a two-run double in the first inning to play Aniyah King who had singled and Courtnee Carter who later walked.
Kelsey Craven singled in Rush who had smacked a base hit earlier to send the Wildcats in front 3-0.
Washington, meanwhile, came in averaging the contest 9.2 runs per contest with a .385 batting average while allowing just .90 runs.
Savannah Beaver would have none of that as the Wildcat sophomore ace yielded only one hit, a single to leadoff batter Emme Davis while walking none and striking out seven.
Abbi Tucker was the hard luck loser for the Pam Pack after going all seven innings and yielding three runs (two earned) and two walks while whiffing seven.