Bearettes second baseman Allison Palmer takes a cut at a pitch during a recent game. After a hot streak the previous week saw Brownsboro scoring in double-digit figures, this past week saw the Bearettes scoring just enough to win two games. Loyd Cook Photo The Brownsboro Bearettes clinched a playoff spot last week after notching a walkoff win and a come-from-behind victory against two district opponents -- Westwood and Athens.

Paige Goggans went the distance against Athens for the win, then went the first six innings against Athens before giving way to Taylor McIntyre, who got the win in relief.

For the next two games to end district play, “we need to stay sharp and continue to improve on the little things that will help us beat good teams come playoff time,” Bearettes head coach James Croley said via e-mail this week.

The two wins moved Brownsboro to 15-9 on the season with a 6-2 record in District 20-3A play.

Friday, April 9

B’boro 6, Westwood 5

The Bearettes took advantage of patience and a Westwood mistake with the use of a clutch hit to bring home the victory.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Taylor Barnes waited it out at the plate, drawing a one-out walk. She moved into scoring position a few pitches later, taking second on a Westwood passed ball.

Morgan Barnes made sure the missed ball was costly, following with a single to plate the game-winning run in walk-off fashion, 6-5.

The clutch, last-at-bat covered for the Bearettes losing a 5-2 lead in the top of the seventh when Westwood scored three runs on two walks and two singles to tie the score

Brownsboro got on the board first in the game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third inning.

With one out, back-to-back errors by the Westwood shortstop and second baseman put Lacey Pettit and Allison Palmer on base. Carley Smith followed with a two-RBI double, then scored on Taylor Barnes RBI single for a 3-0 lead.

Westwood scored two in the top of the fifth inning to cut the lead to one, but Brownsboro answered back with two of its own in the bottom of the inning. Morgan Barnes smoked a double to drive home Taylor Barnes and Palmer for a 5-2 lead.

Then came the pivotal seventh inning.

Goggans pitched six innings, striking out five while walking two. She gave up two runs, only one earned, on two hits. McIntyre got the win after giving up three earned runs on two hits and two walks in her one inning on the mound.

Pettit went 1 for 4 with a run scored. Palmer went 1 for 4 with two runs scored. Smith with 1 for 4 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI.

Taylor Barnes went 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and a RBI. Morgan Barnes went 2 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI. Lindsey Wood went 1 for 4 with a double. And Ashleigh Alford and Chelsea Holcomb each went 1 for 3.

Tuesday, April 6

Brownsboro 6, Athens 4

It’s always considered a special event, getting a win over district rival Athens. And last week’s win was no different.

Paige Goggans’ perserverance on the mound earned the Bearettes a win that put them in second place in the district all alone and dropped Athens down to third place.

Goggans gave up four runs in the bottom of the first inning to the Lady Hornets, but shut them out the rest of the way. After Athens scored the four runs on four hits and a walk, Goggans held them to only four more baserunners over the final six innings. She struck out 11 batters.

Brownsboro began its comeback by answering Athens’ opening barrage with one run in the bottom of the first as Taylor Barnes’ double drove home Carley Smith. Smith had reached second on a double.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Bearettes erased the deficit and caught Athens.

Morgan Barnes doubled and Logan Gaughan came in as a courtesy runner. Ashleigh Alford singled, moving Gaughan to third, then stole second to get into scoring position herself.

After a popup resulted in an out, Bearettes first baseman Chelsea Holcomb’s single drove Gaughan home. Lacey Pettit followed with an RBI double, later scoring on Allison Palmer’s RBI sacrifice fly to tie the score at 4-4.

While Goggans continued to blank the Lady Hornets, the Bearettes offense managed to peck away.

In the bottom of the third, Taylor Barnes walked, then Lindsay Wood laid down a sacrifice bunt moving Barnes to second. She then advanced to third base before sister Morgan Barnes’ groundout drove her home and put Brownsboro up, 5.-4

The Bearettes added an insurance run in the fifth inning.

Smith doubled, then advanced to third base on Taylor Barnes groundout. Wood drove her home for the final run of the game and a 6-4 lead that held up the rest of the way.

Smith went 2 for 4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Pettit went 1 for 4 with a double and a RBI. Palmer had two walks and the sacrifice fly RBI.

Taylor Barnes was 1 for 3 with a double, run scored, and a RBI. Morgan Barnes was 1 for 2 with a double and a RBI. Wood was 1 for 2 with a RBI. Alford was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Holcomb was 1 for 2 with a walk, run scored and a RBI. Gaughan had a stolen base and a run scored.