Destiny Fennell's seventh-inning double guided Branford to a win against Lafayette. 

MAYO — Destiny Fennell had a clutch hit in the seventh inning and pitcher MacKenzie Frye closed the door on Lafayette to guide Branford to an 8-6 win at LHS on Tuesday. 

Fennell’s two-RBI double to the fence in right field was the key hit in a five-run seventh inning and Frye limited the damage late to get BHS the win. Lafayette scored three runs in the last inning before Frye recored the final out to secure the Buccaneers’ second victory against LHS this season.

“It’s a rivalry every year and they’ve always beaten us,” Branford coach Oscar Saavedra said of his games with Lafayette. “I’m beyond happy with the girls. Mayo’s always got a strong team and this season we beat them twice.”

Frye gave Branford (10-8) an early lead with a three-run home run in the first inning. She was also impressive in the circle to start, holding LHS scoreless until the fifth inning, when the bottom of the Hornets’ order got things going to score two runs.

Lafayette’s 7-9 hitters — Haley Shows, Tristyn Johnson and Hannah Murray — all reached base to start the fifth. Johnson scored the Hornets’ first run on a wild pitch and Jenna Nall drove in Murray to cut the lead to 3-2.

LHS (7-14) tied the game with a run in the sixth inning, but Branford came right back in the seventh, capitalizing on two errors in a big inning.

“We drop fly balls, we drop balls thrown right at us for easy outs,” Lafayette coach Tommy Chambers said. “When you do that, it’s going to come back and bite you. Hopefully next Tuesday we’ll come out and play good in the district.”

Bailey Thompson, Chloe Linton, Fennell, and Kayley Walker all picked up hits in the seventh inning for Branford. Walker, Linton and Adrianna Saavedra had multiple hits for BHS in the game. Lafayette’s Tara Byrd went 2 for 4.    

“MacKenzie threw the ball hard all night,” Oscar Saavedra said. “She stayed strong. We took advantage of errors and the bats came up.”

Both teams will play again on Thursday. Lafayette hosts Dixie County and Branford will travel to Taylor County.