By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor

EAST BEND -- Starmount's softball team got off to a quick start, overcame one shaky inning and finished on a strong note Friday evening to beat Forbush 4-2 and advance to next weekend's Class 2A championship series in Raleigh.

The Rams led 2-0 after the top of the second inning, getting a run-scoring hit from Nichole Hutchens in the first and an RBI fielder's choice hit from Becca Aplin in the second.

Forbush tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second in an inning where the Rams committed three errors. But Starmount played near flawless defense the rest of the way, giving up just two hits and one walk.

Jessica White hit an RBI single for Starmount in the top of the fifth to put the Rams ahead 3-2. White broke the single-season school record for RBIs in the process.

Starmount tacked on another run in the top of the sixth. Freshman Sydney Caudle, who bats No. 9 in the order, drove home Carla Cave with a two-out single. Cave had doubled two batters before.

Courtney Groce earned the pitching win for the Rams, her 27th victory of the season. Shey Steelman absorbed the loss for Forbush but gave a gutsy performance after suffering an injury early in the game during a collision at first base.

One of the biggest defensive plays of the night came in the bottom of the first inning. Forbush loaded the bases with one out. Jessica Hinkle then hit a hard liner up the middle, but Starmount's Groce caught it, then threw out a base-runner who was too far off third base to get out of the jam and end the inning.

Forbush's season ends at 23-5.

Starmount will make its first trip to Raleigh's Walnut Creek complex for the softball championship series since 2003. The four-team tournament is double-elimination.

The Rams will play the other 2A West representative on Friday night. The tourney continues into Saturday.