Kamryn Kendrick powers Worth County into Elite Eight

SYLVESTER — Worth County needed every bit of Kamryn Kendrick’s big night.

The senior hit two home runs, drove in seven runs and helped keep a persistent Jackson team at arm’s length Tuesday as the Lady Rams won 16-12 at Ram Park to advance to the GHSA Elite Eight state softball tournament.

Worth County (28-4) claimed the deciding game of the three-game series and earned a trip to the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus. The Lady Rams won twice with their season on the line after dropping Monday’s opener.

“It feels so good,” Worth County coach Zach Mauldin said. “Kamryn Kendrick showed out today, what a game.”

Kendrick’s performance included a first-inning home run, a third-inning grand slam and an RBI single. She and Ansley Bartley collected three hits apiece as Worth County finished with 13.

The Lady Rams needed that production against a Jackson lineup that generated 11 hits and kept finding ways back into the game.

Worth County led 10-4 after three innings. Jackson scored five times in the fourth and added two runs in the fifth, turning what had appeared to be a comfortable advantage into a test of the Lady Rams’ ability to keep answering.

They passed.

Worth County added two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth, giving its pitching staff enough support to withstand the Lady Red Devils’ final push.

It was that kind of game from the start.

Jackson scored three runs in the top of the first, getting an RBI single from Zhari Barlow and a two-run double from Camden Biles.

Worth County responded with six runs on six hits in the bottom half. Kendrick hit her first homer, Ellasyn Gandy delivered a two-run double and Jackson starter Mikaela Harris exited after recording only two outs.

Two innings later, Kendrick gave the Lady Rams their biggest swing of the evening.

With the bases loaded, she drove a ball over the left-field fence for a grand slam and a six-run lead.

Jackson promptly cut into it.

Two runs scored on a fielder’s choice off Harris’ bat in the fourth. Barlow followed with a two-run double, and an error brought home another run.

The Lady Red Devils kept pressing, but Worth County kept scoring. Even Victoria Clayton’s solo home run in the seventh couldn’t close the gap.

Austyn Kate Rucker and Gandy each contributed multiple hits for the Lady Rams, who also drew five walks.

Rucker started in the circle, allowing 11 runs, eight earned, on 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. She walked two before Laurie Pritchard took over in relief.

Barlow went 3-for-4 with four RBIs for Jackson. Clayton also had three hits, while Abigail Garner added two.

The victory completed a turnaround that began Monday night. Jackson won the opener 13-8 before Worth County forced a deciding game with a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

That game required the Lady Rams to protect a narrow lead. Tuesday required them to keep adding to one.

Kendrick made sure they did — and Worth County is headed to Columbus.