SPRINGFIELD -- In a game that looked much like Thursday's regular-season finale, the South Effingham Lady Mustangs (21-2-1) eked past Richmond Hill (6-12) in the Region 2-AAAAAA softball tournament on Tuesday, winning 5-2 at Rebel Field.
As was the case Thursday, the Lady Mustangs didn't take the lead until the fifth inning. Both teams plated a run in the first frame and the contest remained deadlocked until Sarah Messex, who led off the fifth frame by getting plunked, advanced around the bases after a series of defensive lapses, giving her team a 2-1 edge.
South Effingham, which survived 6-1 Thursday, got some breathing room in the sixth inning by scoring three times. Avery Roddenberry started the rally with a double and Chloe Turner added a two-base knock later in the frame..
Caraline Stone led the Lady Mustangs with two hits and an RBI.
Bailey Kendziorski was the winning pitcher. She tightened up after giving up a first-inning circuit clout to Avery Fisher, logging 13 strikeouts and allowing just three more hits.
South Effingham will play the winner of Tuesday evening's Glynn Academy-Effingham County game at 4 p.m. Wednesday. A win in the game would propel the Lady Mustangs into the championship round at their field Thursday.