WINDSOR – When a pitcher strikes out nine batters, gets two hits, steals two bases and scores in the same game, they usually expect to win.

For Bertie pitcher Meagan Cowan, it took an exceptional play at the plate by the ladies of Currituck High to upstage her personally exceptional performance.

BHS coach Jackie Copeland and her sluggers went into their game Friday against the Lady Knights with two conference wins against one loss.

After having to swallow a tough 5-4 defeat, Copeland was still very optimistic about the remainder of the season.

&uot;We starting hitting the ball a little late in this game,&uot; she said. &uot;Currituck cranked it up before we did, but our girls didn’t give up and almost got the win anyway.&uot;

The Lady Falcons actually got on the scoreboard first after a perfectly laid bunt by Courtney Dunlow with two runners in scoring position, forced Currituck into an errant throw that allowed two runs to cross the plate.

At that point Bertie Cowan and her teammates had not allowed Currituck to score and Cowan already had four strikeouts to her credit.

The fourth inning ended up being the one chink in Cowan’s armor for the day as the junior standout allowed four runs on five hits, three runs coming when the Knights were down to their final out of the inning.

Cowan regrouped after the fourth to shut down the visitors for the next three innings.

In the bottom of the fifth Cowan drew a two-out walk and promptly stole second base.

After a single by Bertie’s Christie Brown, Cowan stole third base and subsequently came home on a single by teammate Abbey Parker.

Ahead 4-3 to begin the final inning, the Lady Knights manufactured a key run off of a single by leadoff batter Leaha Harrison and a double to left field by Kaitlin Scanion that allowed Harrison to score.

After a groundout and a walk, Bertie’s Cowan struck out two more batters to end the inning.

With their back against the wall at home, the Lady Falcons woke from their slumber to make a game of it.

Holly Cowand opened up the inning with a single to right field. After the next batter grounded out, Cowan and Brown both smacked singles to load the bases.

With only one out in the inning Abbey parker crushed a long double to right-center and the base runners were off and running for what appeared to be at least two scores.

Cowan scored easily and as Cowan raced to the plate for the game tying score, Currituck’s Lauren Turner threw a bullet to home plate that arrived a split second before Cowan who was tagged for the second out of the inning.

After the game Copeland took responsibility for sending Cowan home instead of playing it conservative.

&uot;I gave Meagan the signal to go for home,&uot; Copeland stated.

&uot;That was a perfect throw. When you hit the ball that deep you expect to be able to get a runner home from second. It took a perfect throw to get her.&uot;

With two runners in scoring position, Bertie’s Brittany Hoggard showed nerves of steel, watching four straight balls go by her while sitting on the last strike of the game for the Falcons.

With the bases loaded for the second time in the inning, Allyson Hoggard hit the ball toward the second baseman and just missed beating out the throw to first base for a single that would’ve won the game for Bertie.

The Falcons move to 2-2 in Northeastern Coastal Conference play.