MOULTRIE – The Colquitt County High School varsity softball team traveled to Tift County Thursday night and defeated the Blue Devils 4-2.

The Lady Packers came out strong and determined.

On only the second pitch of the game, after having been thrown a ball, Maris Hopper hit a home run to center field, immediately getting her team on the scoreboard.

The Blue Devils matched this effort when they also received a home run during the bottom of the first, but the Lady Packers turned around and completed a double play to shut down Tift County’s momentum.

Shortstop Carli Pearson, after having to quickly run backwards to get beneath the ball, caught a fly ball for the second out, and then threw the ball to first baseman Hopper to secure the final out.

The Lady Packers didn’t see any more runs until the top of the fourth.

Kaden Sutton doubled to left field, allowing Pearson to score.

Also in the fourth, RaJayla McBride score a run on a passed ball.

The score remained 3-1 until the bottom of the fifth when Tift County managed to score another run, making the game a one-run difference.

During the top of the seventh the Lady Packers score their final run.

When Sutton came up to bat, Pearson was sitting on first because of a walk.

After stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball, Pearson was able to score after Sutton hit a ground ball to left field.

By the end of the game, the Lady Packers had 33 plate appearances, resulting in nine hits.

Pitcher Peyton Arrington was in the circle for all seven innings.

“The biggest thing was the pitching performance,” said head coach Chance Pitts when reflecting on the game. “She [Arrington] went out and threw a complete game, and got her first varsity win ever in the circle. It was smoking hot and she was tired. By the fourth inning she was laboring, but hung in there and did a great job of batting the whole game. She kept us in the game.”

With a total of 118 pitches, Arrington allowed only six hits and two runs.

Of the 30 batters Arrington faced, she struck out four players with a total of 72 strikes.

Colquitt County had no errors.

“It was a good team win,” said Pitts. “I feel like we battled hard the whole game. It was a competitive game, and a good game to play.”

The varsity Lady Packer softball team faces Thomas Central County next on Monday night at Packer Park, beginning at 5:30 p.m.