BUIES CREEK – Lawrence Academy finished third in the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association softball playoffs.

The Lady Warriors dropped Friday’s opening round contest to eventual state champion Cape Fear Christian School 2-0 before ousting arch rival Ridgecroft School 10-0.

That set up Saturday morning’s elimination round game with Lawrence and Hobgood Academy. The Lady Raiders jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and never looked back as they defeated Lawrence 5-0.

Lawrence hit the ball hard in the first inning, but couldn’t get a runner on because of the stout Lady Raider defense.

In the bottom of the inning, an error put Katelyn Whitehead aboard and then Schuyler Edmondson laced a single to right-center field.

After recording the second out of the inning, Whitehead attempted to steal third and the throw to get her sailed into left field. Whitehead scored and Edmondson advanced to third and scored when the throw home missed the mark giving Hobgood a 2-0 lead.

Both teams went quietly through the next few innings before Lawrence recorded its only hit of the game in the top of the fourth frame. Priscilla Lunsford reached on a single to left, but was thrown out attempting to take second on a passed ball.

After a second out, Taylor Sexton reached on an error, but a pop out to first ended the threat for Lawrence.

The Lady Raiders added to their advantage in the bottom of the inning. After two strikeouts and a single, Sara Gregory Sykes ripped a triple to center scoring one run as Hobgood grabbed a 3-0 advantage.

The fifth inning saw the Lady Raiders add two more when Whitehead reached on a bunt single and scored when Edmondson tripled to left field. Morgan Medford then had an RBI-single to give Hobgood a 5-0 lead.

The Lady Warriors never got another runner on board as they suffered the loss which ended their season.