FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Montevallo High School softball team advanced to the championship game of its Bulldog Invitational tournament April 2 before falling to Marbury 8-4 in the title game.

Marbury took advantage of four Montevallo errors to jump out to a 6-0 lead midway through the game, but the Bulldogs responded with a three-run fourth inning to cut the lead in half.

Savannah Upton singled and Savannah Smith doubled to start the rally, then Mallory Anderson ripped her second home run of the tournament to get Montevallo on the scoreboard. Upton reached on an error in the sixth inning and scored on a double by Anderson to close out the scoring for the Bulldogs. Destiny Upton took the loss in the circle.

Montevallo edged West Blocton 4-3 in the tournament semifinals.

The visiting Tigers tallied three runs in the first inning, but Montevallo answered right back with three runs of its own in the second inning.

Madison Fancher and Chelsey Wilson led off the second with walks, followed by singles from Bekah Fowler, Addie Edwards, and Smith to plate the three runs.

In the decisive fifth inning, Anderson reached on an error and later scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Destiny Upton earned her second win of the tournament by surrendering five hits and striking out five.

The Bulldogs edged John Carroll 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

Destiny Upton singled and scored in both the first and fifth innings to supply all the runs the Bulldogs needed to advance to the tournament semifinals.

Savannah Upton also finished with two hits for Montevallo.

Kaley Kornegay was the winning pitcher, giving up two hits and striking out six to earn the complete-game victory.

Montevallo defeated Jemison 9-0 in pool play.

Anderson and Savannah Upton each supplied home runs in a six-run burst in the third inning, as Montevallo advanced out of pool play as the number one seed.

Anderson opened the inning with a towering shot to center field, and Upton later added a grand-slam blast of the left-field light pole.

Destiny Upton gave up just four hits and struck out eight to get the win, and collected two hits at the plate.

The Bulldogs defeated Vincent 8-1 in their pool play opener.

Montevallo jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and cruised to the win in the opening game of pool play.

Smith, Anderson, and Fancher each supplied singles to spark the inning, while Savannah Upton and Anderson each doubled in a two-run fourth inning.

Anderson led Montevallo at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Bekah Fowler finished 2-for-2 at the plate.

Savannah Upton got the win on the mound, pitching a complete game while striking out nine.