WEST CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Behind a spirited effort by Makayla McDowell and some timely hitting, Midway overcame an early loss with an elimination round win on the opening day of the River States Softball Championships Thursday.

Playing as the fourth seed out of the West division, the Eagles mustered just two hits in a 7-1 loss to East division top seed Shawnee State (Ohio) in the opener, before bouncing back from a rough first inning in a 4-2 win in the loser's bracket against Ohio Christian, eliminating the TrailBlazers from the tournament.

GAME ONE

Despite the anemic offensive output, Midway had chances early on. After falling behind 2-0 at the end of the first inning, an Bear error opened the door for a Payton Baum sacrifice fly that cut the deficit to 2-1.

Tenley Gilbert then led off the third inning with a ground-rule double and got all the way to third with one out, only for Shawnee State pitcher Cassie Berry to escape the jam with a strikeout and groundout.

Midway would have just two base runners the rest of a game that Shawnee State put away with a four-run fourth inning.

GAME TWO

The Eagles again gave up two runs in the first inning, in part due to a leadoff double by Chandler Hayes that left fielder Carly Jones lost in the sun on a blusteringly hot, 90-degree day.

Midway stayed behind until Ryann Berger shifted momentum its way with a two-run home run to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth.

Then in the fifth, the hazardous sun worked in the Eagles' favor, as OCU left fielder Kristen Gardner was unable to track a Kennadi Thompson fly ball, which landed in for a double that brought home Kyra McCall for the go-ahead run.

The Eagles added an insurance run on a seventh-inning sacrifice fly by Berger then kept their season alive thanks to strong defense and a great recovery by McDowell following a tough start.

After the TrailBlazers had four hits in the first inning, they mustered just four the rest of the game, with McDowell getting out of two big jams in the process.

Ohio Christian loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but proceeded to fly out to right field on consecutive plays, with a strong, two-out throw to home by Sidney Hudnall helping to keep the runner at third.

The Trailblazers then opened the seventh with back-to-back singles. But after McDowell struck out Lexi King, Thompson was in perfect position at third base to catch a hard-hit line drive by Emma Hastings that likely would have brought a run home.

Next batter Gardner then hit a harmless ground ball to McDowell, who threw to Baum at first to finish off her fifth complete game of the season and advance Midway into the second round of the double-elimination tournament.

The Eagles will try to stave off elimination again on Friday when they will face either Shawnee State or St. Mary of the Woods (Ind.). The Bears and Pomeroys will play in the winner's bracket at 10 a.m., with the loser facing Midway at approximately noon.

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