No. 10 Gaston College wins opener of Mid-Atlantic District, pursues World Series berth on Thursday

No. 10 Gaston College's softball moved within one game of advancing to its second National Junior College Athletic Association World Series appearance in three years on Wednesday night after defeating Georgia Military 9-0 in five innings in the opener of a best-of-three Mid-Atlantic District playoff.

The series, which was played in front of a large crowd at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park on Wednesday evening, concludes on Thursday with a 2 p.m. game and possibly a 4:30 p.m. Georgia Military (31-16) would have to win the 2 p.m. game to force the second contest.

The series winner advances to the May 19-24 World Series in Yuma, Ariz.

"For us, it's good to get the first game but we talked after the game about how we've got to get the second game tomorrow and finish the job," said Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald, whose team improved to 59-3 overall with its 26th straight victory.

Starter and winner Kristyn Ezzo got a strikeout with runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the first inning before the Rhinos' offense erupted for five runs in the first inning, four in the third and cruised to the "mercy" rule victory - and 27th shutout win of the season.

"Obviously jumping on them quick and Ezzo getting out of that first inning with runners on second and third really got it going for us," Steuerwald said.

Sarah Johnson's RBI double and two-run doubles from Alayna Patrick and Mary Hinson powered the five-run first and Kendall Bradshaw drew a bases-loaded hit batter, Johnson a bases-loaded walk and Skye Harrington and Grace Kealy had back-to-back RBI singles in the third.

Hinson (3 hits, double, 2 RBIs) and Johnson (2 hits, double, 2 RBIs) led the nine-hit offense and Ezzo finished with a three-hitter with two walks and three strikeouts.

Steuerwald said he was pleased with how his team dealt with the pressure of hosting the district tournament in front of the largest home crowd of the year.

"I was a little worried that we might be a little bit too amped up tonight," Steuerwald said. "But we did great. I told the team that we should take a deep breath and enjoy the moment with the awesome crowd that we had tonight. It was just fantastic to see so many people out here tonight."