Late rally propels Demons to split with Grayhounds

BURLINGTON — The No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the Southeast Conference in Burlington and Washington clashed on Monday night and it did not disappoint.

In game one, the Demons handed the Grayhounds their first conference loss of the season, 8-7, and in game two the Grayhounds were the victors 9-6.

Things were not looking good through five innings for Washington in game one as the Demons trailed the Grayhounds 5-1.

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The Demons weren’t about to go down without a fight.

After Lauren Hinrichsen drew a walk to begin the top of the sixth inning, followed by a Bella Salazar single, Emery Walton notched a base hit to score Hinrichsen and pull the Demons within three, 5-2.

The scoring wasn’t done there.

Kendall Hinrichsen singled to load the bases with no outs.

Salazar then scored on a passed ball to make it 5-3, followed by a Leighton Salazar RBI single and an RBI groundout by Ella Greiner to tie the game at 5-5.

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In the next at-bat, senior Haley Mitchell delivered an RBI single to give the Demons the lead 6-5.

Burlington answered back in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs to retake the lead, 7-6, heading into the seventh.

Washington kept the bats going.

After Lauren Hinrichsen drew a leadoff walk, Walton carded her third hit of the game to bring her home and tie the game at 7-7.

Leighton Salazar was then intentionally walked to put runners at first and second.

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Ella Greiner then delivered what would be the go ahead run with a two-out RBI single to score Walton making it 8-7.

Bella Salazar and company were able to get the three outs needed in the bottom of the inning to seal it.

Emery Walton went 3-for-4 in the game with three RBIs.

Leighton Salazar finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.

Ella Greiner and Haley Mitchell both had one hit with Greiner tallying two RBIs and Mitchell one.

Bella Salazar threw a complete game in the circle, giving up seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits and one strikeout.

In game two, a leadoff double by Leighton Salazar led to a 1-0 lead after she was brought home by Colbie Greiner.

Burlington scored two in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run.

Washington knotted the game at two after the second, but five runs by the Grayhounds in the fourth broke the tie and Burlington would never lose the lead.

The Demons outscored the Grayhounds 4-2 in the final three innings, but it wouldn’t be enough.

Leighton Salazar and Colbie Greiner each had three hits in the loss.

Greiner finished with a team-high three RBIs. Salazar had one RBI.

Ella Greiner and Isabella Salazar both had two hits and one RBI.

Alyvia Anderson and Emery Walton each had one hit.

Colbie Greiner and Hallie Cuddeback threw a combined six innings, giving up a combined nine runs (eight earned) with one strikeout.

After the night, Washington moves to 11-3 in Southeast Conference play and 20-12 overall.

Burlington clinches the SEC with the split.