GPS softball stays alive

photo Madi Stanley pitches for GPS on Wednesday.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - GPS softball coach Susan Crownover said her team's seniors made a vow that their careers were not going to come to an end Wednesday night at Starplex No. 3. And one of them, Madi Stanley, backed it up with her arm and her bat.

Stanley's two-run double in the first inning got the scoring started and she was also the winning pitcher in their 9-3 victory over St. Benedict on Wednesday in a losers-bracket game in the Division II-AA high school softball state tournament.

Baylor plays Pope John Paul II in today's winners-bracket final at approximately 1 p.m. EDT. The loser of that game will play GPS (22-10) at approximately 7 in the losers-bracket final.

Stanley said the early lead -- she also got a two-run double from Stephanie George in the first inning and another run scored on an error -- helped her relax.

"I was up for this one," Stanley said. "We were very ready to play."

Leadoff batter Bailey Davenport provided a spark, going 2-for-3 and scoring two runs. No. 3 batter Hannah Kincer also scored twice for the Bruisers, who led 7-0 after two innings.

"It was nice to take a breather," said Crownover, who rested Stanley after four innings with the hope it will help her be stronger today. "We hit some shots. Madi got us started. It was nice to put several on the board at one time."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.

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