Charlottesville, VA – (ROCKTOWN NOW) Christiansburg pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat Turner Ashby 6-3 Saturday to win the Class 3 State Championship.

 

Kadyn Camper’s RBI double broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning. Tyleigh Dillard provided the insurance with a two-run single later in the inning.

 

Camper, who struck out 15 batters in the game, then retired the Knights in order in the bottom of the eighth to give the Blue Demons their first ever state title in softball.

 

Turner Ashby was one out away from winning its second state championship. With the Knights leading 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Christiansburg loaded the bases with nobody out. However, Knights pitcher Haley Lambert was able to strike out the next two batters.

 

Unfortunately, for Lambert and the Knights, Makaylee Hughes hit a two-run single to right to give the Blue Demons a 3-2 lead.

 

Turner Ashby had another opportunity to in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kaydence Williams led of the inning with a single. After being sacrificed to second base, she stole third and when the throw went into left field, she scored the tying run

 

Later in the inning, Rheagan Warner, who had three hits in the game, singled and made it to third base, representing the game-winning run, but a pop-up ended the inning and sent the game to extras.

 

“I can’t express how much this one hurts,” Turner Ashby coach Clint Curry said afterwards. “We were out away. This will probably hurt for a long time.”

 

Turner Ashby saw its 20-game winning streak end and ended the season with a 23-3 record.