A two-out double by Darby Bishop in the bottom of the sixth inning broke up a marvelous pitchers’ duel Thursday night in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 4A fast-pitch South State championship series.

    Bishop’s double drove in Emily Davis to snap a 1-1 tie. Davis had reached on a fielder’s choice following a walk to Shelby Bishop.

    Davis got the win to up her record to 16-1 this spring and 33-1 over the past two years. She allowed four hits, all coming in the first three innings, before retiring the last 14 batters she faced.

    “We got out of trouble early on and then she settled in and did a better job,” said Newton County coach Justin Chaney. “It was just a well-played ball game.

    “For five and a half innings they outplayed us. Emily steals a base and Darby gets a big two-out hit. We’ve said it from Day 1, we’ve got to get two-out hits.”

    Kaitlin Polk (1-3) was just as impressive for West as she tossed a two-hitter with two walks and three strikeouts.

    “I haven’t seen Polk in a couple years, but that young lady pitched her butt off and so did Emily,” Chaney said.

    “We did what we wanted to do pitching-wise and had some opportunities to score some runs early and just couldn’t get a big two-out hit,” said West coach Cary Luke. “We got one in the first and nothing after that.

    “And they made the plays when they had to. It was a good ball game. We battled and they battled and that’s what it’s supposed to be this time of year — two good teams going at it.”

    West took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Haleigh Moffett hit a two-out double to left field and scored on a single by Sarah Lolley.

    West (26-9) had runners at second and third in the second, but Davis got one of her two strikeouts to end the threat.

    Newton County (27-3) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Davis singled and took second on a throwing error from center field. After moving over to third on a fly ball by Ashton Lampton, Davis dashed home with the tying run on an 0-2 wild pitch by Polk.

    “We let that run get in and that took some of the momentum and then they got a big two-out hit and that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Luke said.

    Newton County second baseman Latesia Davis turned in the game’s defensive gem to thwart a potential comeback in the top of the seventh as she ranged far to her left to field a ground ball and throw out Tabby Deavers at first base to lead off the frame.

    “No doubt that’s the best play I’ve seen her make in her entire high school career,” Chaney said. “It just changed the whole complexion of the inning. I thought it was an outstanding play.”

    CC Lawn and Paige Davis both had a single for West.

    Game 2 and 3, if needed, are scheduled for Saturday in Collinsville with a 4 p.m. start.

    “We’ve got to go home and try to find a way to win two in a row,” Luke said.

    “It won’t be easy over there, but we had to protect our home field and we did that,” Chaney said.