LIVE OAK — As Haley Ellefson continued to get big out after big out, confidence started to grow for a young Lafayette softball team.

The Hornets were big underdogs to Suwannee, but they didn’t look the part on Monday.

LHS broke through at the plate in the sixth inning and staved off a comeback attempt from a potent Suwannee offense to win 4-3.   

“It’s a great win,” said Lafayette coach Tommy Chambers, whose team snapped a three-game losing skid. “We needed that. We kept our composure when we had to. It was a better effort especially coming off of last week’s games.”

Ellefson was at her best when the Hornets needed it most. She limited the damage every time Suwannee looked like it was going to break the game open.  

“We had quite a few runners, but we couldn’t get a timely hit,” said SHS coach Jeff Smith. “They have a good pitcher. If you play good defense and have good pitching, you can beat anybody on any given day.”

The Bulldogs left 13 runners on base. With LHS leading 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Kasey Frazier singled and Kirstin Rogers was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Ellefson retired the next three batters to end the game.

Richelle McDonald used some patience at the plate — drawing an eight-pitch walk — to get LHS started during its big sixth inning. Lafayette trailed 2-1 to start the frame, but left with the lead after five walks and a hit batter. 

Tara Byrd scored the go-ahead run on an error and Charlie James drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the Hornets’ fourth run.     

Suwannee’s Savannah Brown tripled to lead off the game and scored the first run. Antwane Mitchell scored on a single by Frazier in the third inning, but the Bulldogs didn’t get another run until the sixth.

LHS shook off a few early errors and played better defense in clutch situations. Chambers was pleased to see Ragan Barnes make some important defensive plays at third base.   

“Everybody is going to make mistakes. It’s what you do after that’s most important,” Chambers said. “She made three really good plays after her errors. That’s what I’m looking for.”   

“We picked it up in the dugout and played as one,” said Lafayette assistant coach Timberly Steichen, a former Suwannee High softball player and 2015 SHS grad. “It’s always been a rivalry Suwannee and Mayo. It’s good to come out on the winning side.”

The last time Lafayette defeated Suwannee in softball was in 2013. Steichen was a sophomore at the time playing for Chambers, who was the head coach at SHS. The Bulldogs had won the previous six meetings.  

Suwannee (12-8) travels to Lafayette on Friday for a rematch. The Hornets (7-11) are back in action today with an away game against Trenton.