The Lady Indians utilized a pair of solo homeruns against Habersham Central, but needed extra innings to win a 3-2 thriller on Monday in both teams’ season openers.

A pitcher’s duel between Stephens’ Kasey Wallace and Habersham Central’s Cheyenne Hobson had the game knotted at 0-0 heading into the sixth. A total of three homers supplied most of the offense the rest of the way, as the Lady Indians secured a thrilling 3-2 win.

In the early going, Hobson constantly had to work out of trouble. She struck out several on the game, working out of jams in the first, second, third (bases loaded), fourth, and fifth (bases loaded).

Meanwhile, the Lady Raiders (0-1) had a few opportunities, but seldom had a runner in scoring position. Habersham had a runner on third with two outs in the fifth but couldn’t cash in.

Carley Funderburke, who had walked in all three prior at-bats, drilled a line drive over the left field wall to lead off the sixth inning and end the shutout. Hobson worked out of trouble again after a triple moments later was stranded.

Down to their final two outs, the Lady Raiders got some magic from Ryann Coleman. She lined a ball past a diving right fielder and raced all the way around the bases for a game-tying inside-the-park homerun. Habersham got two runners on after but was unable to bring the winning run home – sending the game to the eighth.

Karlie Brady led off extra innings with a homerun almost identical to Funderburke’s. Emma Kate Powell added an RBI double for a 3-1 cushion for Stephens County (1-0).

In the final chance for the Lady Raiders, the home team started the inning with a HBP and a walk. After a strikeout, Hailee Parham had an RBI single to make it a 1-run game. Coleman had a loud fly ball out, and a popup followed to end the contest with the 3-2 final.