The visiting Lady Spartans’ bats came alive in the top of the fourth and South Caldwell plated five runs, giving them all the advantage they needed in eventual 9-3 win over the Freedom softball team late Monday.

The visitors’ rally came after a third-inning Morgan Maynor double plated Myra Twitty, giving the hosts a 2-0 advantage. Maynor had picked up an RBI of her own in the first inning when her single brought home Lauren Maynor for the game’s first run.

But the Spartans conveyed a two-run home run, a triple and a single into five runs to break the game open. Freedom added just one more run when Jade Lipsey doubled and scored on a subsequent error.

“(South Caldwell) is a great hitting team and it was (pitcher) Elle (Tanner’s) second or third time through the lineup,” said Freedom coach Jeff Williams. “(The Lady Spartans) just hit the ball. They’re a good hitting team. They’re undefeated in the conference for a reason.”

Twitty led the way at the plate for Freedom (7-6, 6-3 NWC), going 3 for 3 with a walk. Morgan Maynor was 3 for 4. Emma Price and Brandi Buchanan picked up additional hits for the hosts.

Tanner pitched more than six innings with six strikeouts for Freedom before giving way to Brittany Powell late. South Caldwell racked up 14 hits as a team.

— Justin Epley