Gaston College softball advances to Region 10 winner's bracket final

Gaston College's top-seeded softball team survived a strong challenge from USC Union on Thursday afternoon to advance to the winner's bracket final of the Region 10 tournament at Patriot Park in Sumter, S.C.

The Rhinos' 4-1 victory after a three-run fifth inning snapped a 1-all tie with the Bantams and advances Gaston College into Friday's 1:30 p.m. winner's bracket final against second-seeded Florence-Darlington Tech.

"Ugly win but we'll take a 'W' anytime at this of year," Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald said. "We didn't play great. But we're happy to win and we look forward to the next game."

The Rhinos, who have received votes in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll for nine of the last 10 weeks, improved their overall record to 48-7 with the victory.

Gracie Brown drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

After USC Union tied the score at 1 on an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning, Ghorley's RBI single gave the Rhinos the lead for good at 2-1. Skye Harrington's two-run single later in the inning accounted for the final score.

Starter and winner Abigail Gawlinski pitched a six-hitter with four strikeouts in a 89-pitch complete game.

"She pitched herself out of some tough spots," Steuerwald said. "She did a great job of mixing up her pitches down to the last pitch she threw. She was facing their four hole hitter and all-region catcher and she threw her a great changeup and got a pop out to (centerfielder) Gabby (Porterfield)."

Ghorley (3 hits, 1 RBI), Harrington (2 hits, 2 RBIs) and Grace Kealy (2 hits) led the Rhinos' 11-hit offensive attack.

Here's the Region 10 tournament results and schedule:

(Thursday, May 2)
Game 1 - No. 3 Monroe, N.Y. vs. No. 5 USC Union - USC Union 6-4
Game 2 - No. 4 Spartanburg Methodist vs. No. 6 USC Sumter - Spartanburg Methodist 8-0
Game 3 - No. 1 Gaston College vs. USC Union - Gaston 4-1
Game 4 - No. 2 Florence-Darlington Tech vs. Spartanburg Methodist - Florence-Darlington 4-3 in 8 innings
(Friday, May 3)
Game 5 - Monroe, N.Y. vs. USC Sumter, 11 a.m.
Game 6 - USC Union vs. Spartanburg Methodist, 11 a.m.
Game 7 - Gaston College vs. Florence-Darlington Tech, 1:30 p.m.
Game 8 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 1:30 p.m.
Game 9 - Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner, 4 p.m.
(Saturday, May 4)
Game 10 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 11 (if necessary) - If Game 9 winner wins Game 10, 1:30 p.m.