By Tray Mason
Correspondent

Nansemond River’s softball team added another heartbreaking defeat to a list of frustrating losses this season, this time losing 5-3 to Western Branch.

On a day in which the Lady Warriors honored their senior players, they led 2-1 all the way through six innings, before the Bruins took a 3-2 lead on a fielding error.

In the seventh inning, a single through the infield from Jessie Rogers loaded the bases for NR with no outs.

Sydney Glover walked in the following at-bat, bringing home the tie run, putting the score at 3-3.

But the Lady Warriors failed to capitalize on the bases-loaded situation, and the game went into extra innings.

Neither team scored in the eighth inning, but Western Branch broke the tie in the ninth.

The Bruins first advanced Megan Thursby after a sacrifice bunt allowed her to advance to second base.

Laurence Irvin went toe to toe with Sydney Glover in a seven-pitch at-bat before hitting a home run deep over the centerfield wall.

The Bruins took a 5-3 lead and easily retired the Lady Warriors’ three batters in the ninth inning for the win.

“It was a great game, the girls played phenomenal, we hit the ball well, ran the bases well,” Nansemond River head coach Tim Tarafas said. “It was just one shot that changed the whole game.”

The Lady Warriors finish the season on the road. They take on Oscar Smith Tuesday and travel again Friday to face Great Bridge.