Wayne County Post 11 lost its first game of the season 8-2 against Davidson Post 8 in the N.C. American Legion Fast Pitch Softball State Tournament.

However, Post 11 still has a chance to win a state championship. Wayne County will face Robeson Post 8 in a rematch at 10 a.m. tomorrow, with the winner facing Davidson in the state championship game at 1 p.m.

“We didn’t quit, and that’s what I’m proud of. Softball is a funny game, somedays you hit it, and somedays you don’t,” Wayne County Post 11 head coach T.J. Smothers said. “The good thing is that we get to come back tomorrow and try it again.”

Davidson jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

Wayne County attempted to answer but was unable to score any run in the bottom of the inning.

Davidson would go on to score two more runs in the top of the third inning to take a 6-0 lead.

“They got some blooper hits, and then they hit some gappers on us,” Smother said. “We didn’t really make any errors. They just kind of found holes.”

But Wayne County cut Davidson’s lead down to 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Mackenzie Amodeo got things started with a leadoff double. Amodeo would then cross home plate off Gracelyn Massey’s RBI double.

Kierstin Cooper then stepped into the batter’s box and hit an RBI single, but Davidson scored two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take an 8-2 lead.

Wayne County loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Davidson managed to hold off Wayne County to get the win.

“I told the girls after the game ‘that it’s single-elimination from here, and we only have to beat them one time, so we’re going to get something good to eat, get some sleep and come back tomorrow and play two games.”