CORNERSVILLE, Tenn. – The Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglettes (5-19, 1-7) fended off a furious late push from the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs (2-16, 0-5) in a 7-5 road victory on Thursday.

With the win, the Eaglettes have now won three of their last five games as the regular season begins to wind down. 

In the circle for Shelbyville Central, Tenley West pitched the first 6.1 innings, working around 11 hits and three walks to concede just three earned runs while striking out four batters on 103 pitches. Rileah Crutcher came on in relief to pitch the final 0.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on one hit and two walks on 41 pitches. 

Cornersville took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the Eaglettes quickly responded with five runs in the top of the second to take a 5-1 lead.

Shelbyville Central added two more runs in the top of the fourth to extend its advantage to 7-1, but then the Lady Bulldogs began to claw their way back. Cornersville plated two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh, but the Eaglettes were ultimately able to hold on for the win.

The Eaglettes were doubled up in hits, 12-6, and committed four errors in the field to Cornersville’s one. Despite this, Shelbyville Central stranded a whopping 16 Lady Bulldogs on the basepaths, and launched three home runs as a team.

At the plate, Janiya Leslie led off going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two doubles, and a home run. Ja’Mya Anderson was 0-1 with three walks and one run scored, Maci Lovvorn went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, a home run, and a walk, and Jeheili Palacios Acuna finished 0-3 with a walk and a run scored. Ali Rippy went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, a walk, and a home run while Jazzlynn Nowlin finished 1-for-1 with a walk and a double.

Shelbyville Central travels to Franklin County on Monday before hosting Murfreesboro Central Magnet on Tuesday for Senior Night. Both games are scheduled for 5:30 p.m.