Softball tops Smyrna in extra innings

The Milfor dHigh School softball team upset Smyrna 3-1 in a tense, eight-inning victory in the first round of the state championship tournament, setting up a meeting on Tuesday with Sussex Tech.

Neither team could score early, as Janée Wilson held her own in a pitchers' duel. Smyrna scored first, in the third inning, but the Eagles could only get one run out of the rally and the Bucs tied the game in the top of the sixth by taking advantage of a Smyrna fielding error.

The game stayed tied at one through the seventh inning, but the Bucs broke it open as soon as they went to extra innings. A walk and two bunts loaded the bases, and then a base hit sent two runners home to put Milford up 3-1.

Milford couldn't get any more runs out of that rally, but their stout defense made a two-run lead more than enough. Smyrna managed to put runners on first and second with two outs, but a pop-up from their last batter ended the rally and sealed the upset for the 10th-seeded Bucs.

Milford moves on to face Sussex Tech at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, at Tech.