Freshman closes out South Point softball win

DALLAS — Freshman Kristen McAndrews pitched a strong final 2 1/3 innings, closing out South Point’s 9-7 conference-opening win at North Gaston on Tuesday.

McAndrews relieved Taylor Mahaffey with two outs in the fifth with South Point ahead 9-4. She preserved the lead with a three-strikeout, one-walk, one-hit performance.

“She came in to a pressure-cooker situation for a ninth grader and played well,” South Point coach Chip Wilson said.

Jordan Wilson, Alison Yarbrough and Taylor Mahaffey each had two hits and a triple for South Point (3-2, 1-0 Big South 3A Conference). The Red Raiders step out of conference action Thursday at East Lincoln and return to league play Friday at Hunter Huss.

Sidney Mitchell struck out nine for North Gaston (2-2, 0-1), which plays at Cherryville today and travels to Ashbrook on Friday.