After blowing a 6-run lead in a Game 1 loss, the Lady Wildcats pulled even in Game 2 with a 5-1 victory and completed the comeback this past Friday at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill.

In winning the school’s 5th state softball title, the 4th most in S.C. High School League history, and 1st since 2001, Lexington (26-4) scored 4 unanswered runs and finished the game with 3 homers.

“The girls did a great job hanging in there,” First-year head coach Laurie Epps said. “They didn’t give up. They continued to show their resiliency and they believed in each other and I’m so proud of these guys and how they came together and continued to be a team, no matter what happened.”

Lexington jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top 1st. After Jaci Fleming reached on a leadoff infield single, Hannah Kumiyama sent Haylee Whitesides’ pitch over Tiara Pearson in left field and over the fence for her 2nd HR of the series.

It was the University of South Carolina-bound senior’s final at bat as the Lady Rebels intentionally walked her each time she returned to the plate.

J.F. Byrnes (29-5) answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Kasey Widmyer and a RBI fielder’s choice by McKinna Taylor.

The Lady Rebels then capitalized off 3 Lexington errors for 3 runs in the 2nd inning to take a 5-2 lead.

A solo home run to right-centerfield by Jessica Senn in the Top 3rd cut the deficit to 5-3.

After Fleming reached on a dropped infield flyball at third base and Kumiyama was intentionally walked in the 4th, Sarah Gordon belted a 2-run single to tie the game.

“We know that every now and then, we might have those innings, but we know we’ve got to bounce back,” Epps said. “And we know that our bats have been key all season long and they came through tonight.”

With 1 out in the top 5th, Stanley skied a 2-strike pitch by Widmyer into the night sky. As the ball fell downward, J.F. Byrnes’ Pearson once again found herself unable to make the catch as it flew over the fence.

“I was more concerned that she was going to catch it,” Stanley said. “I didn’t think it was out, to be honest. I was very surprised. When I started running past first, I was like ‘no, that’s a home run.’”

The Lady Rebels threatened again in the Bottom 6th with runners on 1st and 2nd. As Kumiyama caught a flyball by White-sides in rightfield, her timely throw to 3rd base allowed Stanley to tag out J.F. Byrnes’ Hayden Bradley for the double play.

“Right before, I was like telling myself ‘She’s going to pop it up to you and you’re going to hose the girl at third,” Kumiyama said. “When she did it, I knew my throw had to be on point and I knew Saige had my back with the catch and tag right here.”

Another defensive play by the Lady Wildcats’ infield led by shortstop Alyssa McGraw resulted in catcher Sarah Gordon tagging out potential go-ahead runner Laurin No-dine during a rundown for the 3rd out.

Light, who finished with 7 strikeouts, got the final 3 outs in the 7th and after Perri Rouillard made a diving catch in centerfield for the 3rd out, the celebration began for the Lexington players and fans.

“It’s all these girls,” Epps said. “They believed. They worked hard. They put the time in and they had fun. This is probably the most fun group of kids I’ve ever been around. They keep it fun and light-hearted and that’s how they play their best.”