SOUTH RANGE FAILS TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE AS A WIN

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – It was a good old-fashioned pitchers’ duel on Friday, but South Range came out on the short end, falling to Independence 3-1 at the Grand Strand Classic.

Both teams leaned on their arms early and often, but it was a couple of key swings — and a couple of Raider mistakes — that tipped the scales.

Independence grabbed the early lead in the bottom of the first. South Range looked like they were about to escape trouble, but a defensive miscue opened the door. Genna Gallucci made sure it hurt, ripping a single to center to bring home a second run and put the Blue Devils up 2-0 out of the gate.

In the third, Independence tacked on another insurance run when Macey McGhee doubled down the left field line to make it 3-0.

South Range didn’t go quietly, finally breaking through in the fourth. Heidi Bartels came up with a clutch base hit to plate a run and get the Raiders on the board, but that would be all they could scratch across.

Lila Manfredonia was locked in for Independence. The righty struck out 15 and walked just one over seven innings, scattering three Raider hits and keeping South Range from ever finding a rhythm at the plate.

Solena DeJesus got the start for South Range and battled. She went four innings, giving up three runs (just one earned) on five hits, striking out four, and walking nobody. Gabby Spooner and Anna Aey each added a hit alongside Bartels for the Raiders, but there just wasn’t enough traffic on the bases to mount a real threat.

Independence played clean behind Manfredonia, with no errors on the board, while catcher Melina Rodriguez anchored the defense with 14 chances handled perfectly.

South Range (8-5) finishes the trip at 2-3 and will look to bounce back Monday when they return home to host Poland. This will serve as the beginning of a seven-game in six-day stretch for the Lady Raiders.