CHOCOWINITY — Down 1-0 against the two-time WDN Pitcher of the Year Savannah Mumford, Washington was able to rally to victory thanks to a mix timely hitting, quality pitching and a sturdy defensive effort to top Southside 4-2 on Tuesday.
On a cool night, both Mumford and the Pam Pack’s Rebekah Langston hurled pitches that were as crisp as the air as they squared off in a fantastic pitchers’ duel on Tuesday in Chocowinity.
Mumford, who held a no-hitter through the first four innings, would end the game allowing four hits while striking out eight and walking four in a losing effort, while Langston scattered six hits, fanned five and walked one to pick up the win.
“Savannah is a tough pitcher to hit but we were able to come up with some key hits,” Washington coach Doug Whitehead said. “It was a very good win against a very good team, we’ll take it.”
Despite the loss Southside coach John Lohman was pleased with his team’s performance.
“Overall, I’m happy. We played a very good team and a bigger school real close,” Lohman said. “We didn’t quit, and even though we got down 4-1 we were able to add another run in the seventh.”
The Seahawks (2-1, Four Rivers) jumped out to 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Valarie Hodges reached base on a Pam Pack error and would score two batters later when Sondra Sparks belted an RBI double.
After struggling to figure out Mumford for the first four innings, Washington (2-1, Coastal Conference) would pick up its first hit of the game in impressive fashion as freshman Adriana Tyson drilled a leadoff triple to left-center field. Tyson would not be on third for long as fellow freshman Haley Hutchins dropped down a bunt to score the run and was able to beat out the throw to first to save an out.
Kat Staton, who drew a walk, would join Hutchins on base and both would move up a bag on a Kaylee Jackson sac bunt.
After getting leadoff hitter Morgan Bryant to pop out to short, it looked like Mumford might get out of the inning with minimal damage, but a Southside error on a Catie Dority grounder to third allowed both Hutchins and Staton to cross home plate to put the Pack up 3-1.
With the lead in hand, Langston buckled down and yielded only two hits the rest of the way.
“In the late innings she was on her ‘A’ game,” Whitehead said. “She was getting ahead of batters and locating her pitches down in the zone and that makes her tough to hit.”
Washington would add another run in the seventh on a Jackson RBI double that scored Hutchins.
The Seahawks were able to cut the Pam Pack’s lead to 4-2 when on a Mumford fielder’s choice grounder that scored Laura Whittington but would not get any closer.

Washington    000    030    1    –    4    4    1
Southside    001    000    1    –    2    6    2
WP: Rebekah Langston; LP: Savannah Mumford
Hitting: W — Adriana Tyson 1-2 (3B, R), Haley Hutchins 2-4 (RBI, 2 R), Kaylee Jackson 1-3 (2B, RBI); SS — Savannah Mumford 1-4 (RBI), Marlin Edwards 2-3 (2B), Sondra Sparks 1-3 (RBI, 2B), Morgan Harding 1-3, Laura Whittington 1-3 (2B).