It wasn’t easy but the Pike Lady Patriots survived and advanced to day two of the AISA Class 3A State Tournament after defeating Lee Scott 9-2, falling to Glenwood 10-0 and coming back to beat Hooper 10-8 in game three.

The Patriots jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game one and extended the lead in the third. Danni Brown scored Amanda Finlayson and Sam Yarbrough with a single and Bailey Rushing e grounded out on a fielder’s choice to score Callee Jinright.

After Lee Scott scored two runs in the fourth inning, the Patriots were right back on the offensive in the fifth, Elaina Strother scored Mallory Clifton on a sacrifice fly and the Patriots increased their lead to 6-2.

The Patriots put the final nail in the coffin in the sixth inning when they scored three more runs capped of by a single by Strother to score Jinright.

“That game was a good game for us,” said Patriots head coach Robert Rolland. “The two times we played them this year they were close games, so I was concerned with them. It was nip and tuck before we started gaining control.”

Game two was more of a challenge for the Patriots. Game one starter Sam Yarbrough got the ball again in game two and Glenwood had the sticks working early.

The Patriots had an opportunity to get on the board in the second inning. Bailey Rushing and Danielle Brown both reached on walks. After back-to-back strikeouts Jordan Grice reached base on an error to lead the bases with two outs. Elaina Strother struck out to end the threat.

The Gators turned the tables and capitalized on their opportunity in there half of the second. They scored three runs on three hits. Two of the three runs were scored on a wild pitch and an error.

The Gators tacked on to their lead in the third when they hit two homeruns and took a 6-0 lead into the fourth inning.

The Gators scored two runs in the fourth including one on a wild pitch. The game came to a close in the sixth inning when the Gators strung together a walk and two base hits to score their final two runs of the game.

Things looked dire in game three, as the Patriots were behind by as many as seven runs before going on a 10-1 scoring streak.

Down 7-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Patriots chipped away and put four runs on the board. The offense started when both Yarbrough and Rushing each reached base via the walk. They both came around to score on a base hit by Brown. Clifton hit a sacrifice fly and Grice got hit with the bases loaded.

The Colts scored their final run in the fifth, pushing their lead back out to four runs. The Patriots didn’t stop they kept coming and scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a double by Rushing that scored Yarbrough and then an error on the pitcher scoring Rushing.

After shutting down the Colts in the sixth inning, the table was set for a dramatic conclusion for the Patriots. Kayla Dendy and Finlayson both were on base for Yarbrough who blasted a shot over the center field wall for a three-run homerun to give the Patriots the lead. After adding another run, Yarbrough shut the door in the seventh to send the Patriots into Saturday.

Brown finished with two hits in both game two and three for the Patriots.

Yarbrough who pitched the first two games was lifted in game three after pitching 2 1/3 innings. Finlayson came in and pitched the next 1 1/3 innings before Yarbrough came in and finished things off.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Sam,” Rollan said. “That’s what girls do in softball. We are going to ride her as long as she is one, she’s on.”

The Patriots advance to play in an elimination game against Autauga Academy on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.