Hanahan holds on in opener

Class AA Softball

HANAHAN — The one thing about Hanahan pitcher Laura Moore, says coach Chris Pope, is that she doesn't panic.

Mic Smith
The Post and Courier

Hanahan's Laura Moore uncorks a pitch during the third inning.

Moore survived a three-run fourth inning, but settled down to shut out Crescent the rest of the way and the Hawks took Game 1 of the Class AA state championship series 4-3 Monday night at Hanahan.

"Laura is one of the most steady players on the team," Pope said. "She doesn't let things rattle her. She doesn't worry."

Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be played Wednesday at Crescent (26-3). Game 3, if necessary, will be played Friday at a neutral site.

Moore allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts for the Hawks (20-5). She also helped her own cause by going 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs.

But the late heroics at the plate belonged to No. 9 hitter Allie Adams, whose one-out groundout in the sixth drove in Brittany Peters from third with the go-ahead run. Then Moore had to go out in the seventh and make the lead stand up. She did.

"It's my senior year, and I really want to win a state championship," Moore said. "I've been playing since the seventh grade and we've never been this close, so knowing we're really close just fueled me."

Moore retired the first 10 batters she faced before allowing a one-out walk in the fourth inning to JeRita Adger.

Adger stole second and scored easily on Kelsey Davis' triple down the right field line. Haley Taylor followed with a triple to left to drive home Davis and scored on Lacy Burdette's run-scoring ground out.

Moore got out of the inning without further damage, but the Hawks trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Trailing 3-1, the Hawks edged closer in the bottom of the fourth on Megan Baker's RBI double to center to cut it to 3-2.

The Hawks tied it 3-3 in the fifth on Moore's run-scoring infield hit.

Hanahan put the pressure on the visitors by scoring a run in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead.

Ashton Jarrett led off with a single, advanced to second on a bunt by Courtney Murdaugh and scored on Moore's two-out single to center field.