AHOSKIE – Then came the seventh stanza.

Ridgecroft held a 5-3 lead over Hertford County High School heading into the final inning.

The Lady Bears, however, responded with six runs in the top of the seventh to rally past the home team and secure a 9-5 victory.

&uot;It was a great comeback for a team that hasn’t experienced success the last couple of years,&uot; second-year HCHS coach Rick Heckler said. &uot;It was a great experience for them. They learned it’s never over.&uot;

With the Rams ahead going into the seventh, Brooke Stroud led off the inning with a walk. She then stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored when the throw to nab her at third sailed into the outfield.

Britney Wilder followed with a walk and then took second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch. Antoinette Lyles walked and stole second to put runners on second and third. Both Wilder and Lyles scored when Ally Rushing laced a double into leftfield.

Amber Moore then singled to right, sending Rushing home to give Hertford County a 7-5 advantage.

A pitch hit Lindsey White, putting runners on first and second before Chelsea Malone advanced them on a groundout. Lauren Barmer scored Moore and sent White to third on her groundout before a Wilder single scored White and secured the HCHS win.

Ridgecroft took the early lead in the bottom of the first frame.

Keli Martin walked and cored on a Stephanie Northcott groundout to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.

HCHS tied the score in the top of the third when Brittany Odom walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Wilder double down the leftfield line.

The Lady Rams went back on top when Martin singled, stole second and scored on a fielder’s choice with Emily Cooke at the plate.

HCHS then took their first lead in the top of the fifth.

Amber Matthews reached on catcher interference, stole second and went to third on a groundout by Stroud. She then scored on a wild pitch.

Lyles then walked, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on Moore’s single that gave HCHS a 3-2 lead.

Ridgecroft reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the same inning when Martin walked and then scored on a two-run homer by Cooke. Northcott reached on an error and went to second on Lauren Lilley’s single. She scored when Whitney Liverman reached on an error to give Ridgecroft the 5-3 lead.

The Lady Bears were led by Wilder and Moore, who were each 2-for-4, while Rushing was 1-for-2.

Martin led the Lady Rams with a 2-for-2 day at the plate in addition to a pair of walks. Cooke was 1-for-4 with a homerun while Lilley and Liverman were also 1-for-4.