Jay Compton|Daily News Cumberland Gap's Kaitlyn McCarty coasts into third as Claiborne's Lindsey Cooper collects a throw and goes for the tag. McCarty had a triple and also walked and scored a run as the Lady Panthers beat the Lady Bulldogs 6-3 on Friday.

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Staff report

NEW TAZEWELL, Tenn. — Danielle Caldwell had two hits, including a triple, and also struck out ten while giving up one earned run on six hits as the Cumberland Gap Lady Panthers beat Claiborne 6-3 on Friday.

Lady Bulldog pitcher Makayla Williams struck out 14 but allowed five earned runs on ten hits to take the loss.

Kaitlyn McCarty tripled with two out in the top of the first, but Williams got a pop up to end the inning. After Caldwell sat three Claiborne batters down in order in the bottom of the inning, the Lady Panthers rallied to put up three runs in the second.

Caldwell led off the inning with a triple into the left-center field gap. One out later she scored on a wild pitch as McKayla Hamilton walked. Jordan Thacker singled to put runners at the corners and stole second. With two down, McKenzie Miracle reached on an infield single as Hamilton scored and Thacker also came in on a throwing error.

Williams singled to start the Claiborne second, but left at second as Caldwell retired the next three batters.

The Lady Panthers added a run in the third as McCarty walked and stole second. With two out, Gena Lake delivered an RBI single to make it 4-0.

Claiborne got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Alison Ickes singled to right and Kaylan Patterson reached on one error and both runs came all the way around to score on another.

The Lady Bulldogs closed to within a run in the sixth. Lindsey Cooper walked and stole second. She went to third on a ground out by Sarah Davidson and then scored on Brittany Rosenbalm’s sac fly to center. Williams and Ickles both singled, but Caldwell came back with a strike out to end the inning.

Cumberland Gap pushed across to big insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Singles by Olivia Price, Lindsey Elliott and Caldwell loaded the bases with one out. Williams fielded a comebacker and threw home in time to retire Price for the second out. But Hamilton followed by poking a two-run single into right field for a 6-3 lead.

Claiborne threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Emily Neely had a one-out single an stole second. With two out, Cooper singled to shallow right but the Lady Panthers were able to get Neely out between home and third to end the game.

Cumberland Gap was scheduled to visit Campbell County on Monday before closing out the regular season at Harlan today.

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Cumb. Gap…031 000 2 — 6 10 2

Claibrone…..000 021 0 — 3 6 2

Caldwell and Price; Williams and Ickes. W-Caldwell. L-Williams.