By Mike McClure

After three scoreless innings, the Laurel varsity softball team put a run on the board in the top of the fourth inning and added four runs on a grand slam in the fifth. Delmar scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth then kept the Bulldogs from scoring in the final inning for the 7-5 home win.

“It feels like we do that every single game,” Delmar senior Emily Smith said of her team’s comeback. “(It’s) just staying up and picking each other up and making sure we hold each other accountable.”

“Having energy in the dugout,” said Averi Naugle.

Kadence Melvin comes home to score the go ahead run for the Wildcats in the bottom of the sixth after drawing a walk with the bases loaded to force in a run.

Laurel’s Khloe Shockley singled and scored on a double by Journey Hearn in the fourth (1-0). Shockley, Satisha Louis, and Baylee Lynch singled and scored on a grand slam by Ashlyn Ullman in the top of the fifth for a 5-0 lead. Louis hit a two-out double in the sixth but was left on base.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Wildcats’ Kinsley Rayne hit a leadoff single, Macy Rickards reach first on error (Elle Preston run), and Aubrey Timmons hit a two-run double (5-2).

Lynch came in for Braidyn Hoffman to pitch for the Bulldogs. Marleigh Wells walked, Marlee Somers singled to load the bases, and Kadence Melvin walked to force in a run.

The Bulldogs’ Journey Hearne then came on to pitch. Naugle hit a bloop single over the shortstop to plate a run before Smith singled up the middle to drive in the tying and go ahead runs before the runners moved up on the throw home. Cheyanne Willey grounded out to score add an insurance run for a 7-5 Delmar lead. Hoffman fielded a ground ball to shortstop and threw the runner out at first to strand the runners on the corners.

Lynch led off the seventh inning with a walk but was forced out at second as Shockley reached on a fielder’s choice. Katy Calloway was hit by a pitch with two outs beef Rickards got a fly out to seal her team’s win.

“Yesterday we comeback to win (against Sussex Central) and today’s comeback, it shows the girls how good they are,” said Delmar head coach Lauren Webster, whose team played three games in a row last week.

Smith led the Wildcats with two hits and two RBIs, Naugle went 2-for-3 with an RBI; Timmons batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs; Rayne was 2-for-4, Somers collected a hit, Willey and a hit and an RBI, and Melvin drove in a run. Shockley paced the Bulldogs with two hits and two runs and Louis collected two hits including a double.

“We haven’t beat them a while,” said Naugle.

“I don’t think I’ve ever beaten Laurel,” Smith added.