CHULA – Tiftarea Academy trailed in the first inning of Tuesday’s softball game, but came back in a big way, defeating Brookwood School 13-1 in four innings.

Brookwood scored in the top of the first.

Mollie Vick singled to start the inning, moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Abbie Bustle, then made it home on an infield error.

Tiftarea pitcher Sara-Kate Lupo made sure Brookwood did not cross again, then her team went to work at the plate.

Five runs scored in the bottom of the frame as the first five hitters made it to base safely. Morgan McKay began with a walk and was followed by an Elli Bryan single past shortstop, Lupo’s triple into the left field corner and a single by Laura Ann Jones.

Already up 3-0, Ali Strenth walked to put runners on the corners, then promptly stole second. A ground ball by Sarah Beth Royal brought in Jones, while a wild pitch plated Strenth for the fifth tally of the first inning.

Brookwood put a scare into the Lady Panthers in the second, loading the bases with no outs. Lupo worked her way out of it, however, coaxing a grounder back to her, causing a force out at home. The next batter hit a soft fly snared by a diving Bryan, who doubled off the runner at first base to end the inning.

The momentum off Bryan’s big play set the wheels in motion for an even bigger inning by Tiftarea.

Taking advantage of four walks and more wild pitches, Tiftarea added seven more runs in the second.

With Strenth hustling to third on an infield single by Royal, similar field awareness led to two runs off one wild pitch. Strenth scored easily on the miscue and when the throw from catcher back to pitcher went astray, Royal kept running and scored as well.

Anslee Jones, Grace Odom and Madi Hartsfield all walked their way on base. McKay singled in Odom and later Lupo drove in Hartsfield. Wild pitches brought home McKay and Lupo for the final runs of the inning.

Tiftarea won by mercy rule in the third when Odom scored on a passed ball.

Lupo earned the win in the contest, striking out two. She and Laura Ann Jones each had two hits, Lupo driving in three runs.