GREENVILLE—The Lady Rangers finally got things rolling in seventh inning Saturday but it was too late to overcome the Lady Buccaneers’ heavy bats as University High sped out to a 11-7 win during game three of the District 1-A Softball Tournament at Legion Park.

Down 11-2 heading into the top of the seventh, the Lady Rangers rallied for five runs as they attempted to stage a comeback. The rally began with Unaka’s Madison Pierce being walked to first, before she stole second. With her teammate in scoring position, Sarah Tipton stepped up to the plate and smacked an RBI double to bring in Pierce. Lady Rangers’ Sarah Hardin would also be walked, advancing Tipton to second. Unaka’s Erica Potter nailed a grounder to U-H’s short stop Ari Ramsaran, who over threw third baseman Kensington Dailey, allowing Unaka to load up the bases. Lady Ranger Katlyn Weaver, who had a grandslam on Thursday against Hampton, did not waste the opportunity as she blasted a 2-RBI double to cut U-H’s lead to 11-5. Potter came on home during a 4-3 ground out by Sydney Markland, before Tayla Potter hit an RBI single to bring in Weaver. The actions would come to an end as Tayla Potter was picked off as she tried to steal second.

For Unaka, the game didn’t start out as planned as the Lady Buccaneers picked up five runs in the first inning to take a 5-0 lead. The first three runs of the first frame came when Ramsaran popped a 3-RBI double.

In the bottom of the fourth, Ramsaran proved again that she is dangerous at the plate. With a 3-1 count, Ramsaran blasted a homerun out of centerfield for three RBIs, giving the Lady Bucs an 8-0 lead.

The Lady Rangers answered in the top of the fifth, with Sarah Tipton knocking in Tayla Potter with a single, before Erica Potter brought home Haley Fair with a sacrifice fly, moving the score to 8-2.

U-H picked up three more runs over the fifth and sixth innings.

Working from the mound for U-H was Lexi Crouthers, who tossed all seven innings, during which she recorded seven strike outs with eight hits against her. For Unaka, Corie Schuettler opened things up in the circle before being relieved by Sarah Hardin in the bottom of the fourth.

The Lady Rangers will return to the field on Monday at 5 p.m. as they take on North Greene.