Murphy – Prior to Tuesday, it took extra innings for a Smoky Mountain Conference program to hand Robbinsville its last divisional loss.
Hiwassee Dam downed the Lady Knights 8-7 in a nine-inning affair April 25, 2023, with Robbinsville going on a 19-game winning streak against league opponents thereafter – until Tuesday's road trip to Murphy.
Though the Lady Knights drew first blood against the Bulldogs – and even rallied to pull ahead 5-4 in the fifth – Murphy thundered back with consecutive three-run innings to stun Robbinsville 10-5 at Konehete Park.
Daphne Barlow sprinted home on a Sophie Roberts single in the top of the first for the Knights, but the Lady Bulldogs answered back when Emma Hensley scored on an error and Emma Laney charged across the plate on a Piper Dalton single moments later in the bottom of the frame.
Murphy (6-4, 2-2) tacked on in the second, when Codie Burnette and Aa'Liyah Grant both scored on an error. Robbinsville (7-3, 4-1) began its comeback in the fourth when Kynadee Spencer dashed home on a Suri Watty hit. The Knights reclaimed the lead in the fifth when Roberts scored on an Ella Atwell single; courtesy runner Lexie Williams sprinted across on an Anna Williams hit; and pinch runner Loxley Burke charged home on a Spencer sacrifice.
The Bulldogs pounced back out front for good in the home half when Hensley led off the segment by hitting a solo homer. Laney later scored on another error, while Julia Dockery found her way across on a Gracie Thrasher groundout. Murphy packed on three more in the sixth for insurance, thanks to Hensley singling to drive in Jenna Cook; and Dockery roping a two-run hit that brought in Morgan Oliver and Hensley.
Hosts dammed up
Hiwassee Dam – In a stark contrast to Tuesday's proceedings, Robbinsville had little trouble clinching the season series against Hiwassee Dam on Friday.
Facing the Lady Eagles on the road, the Lady Knights shook off a close 4-3 home victory on March 25 and shutout Hiwassee Dam the second go-around, 10-0.
Robbinsville feathered all 10 of its runs across the first four innings of the game. Roberts singled to bring in Watty and Barlow in the top of the first, while Anna Williams sprinted home after Spencer bunted in the second. Roberts picked up another RBI in the third, roping a hit to plate Barlow. Later in the frame, Roberts scored on an Atwell single.
The Lady Knights put the outcome in the bag in the fourth.
Spencer grounded out to usher home Anna Williams; Presley Caylor and Naomi Taylor hit back-to-back doubles to drive in Barlow, Roberts and Lexie Williams; and Atwell capped the offense with another RBI single, which scored Khaygen Buchanan.