POQUOSON—Southampton at 4:30 p.m. today, June 1, will host York after defeating Poquoson 5-3 in the opening round of the Region I Softball Tournament Monday.

A win will mean a bid for the state tournament for the Lady Indians.

In a match-up of second-seeded teams during a blistering 95-degree afternoon, Southampton got to Virginia Tech-bound pitcher — Poquoson junior Maggie Tyler — in the top of the first inning, putting up a quick pair of runs.

Southampton senior Carla Mathews started the game off with a double off the left fielder’s glove. Freshmen Kaylee Edwards struck out, but a dropped third strike allowed her to reach, and Mathews to advance to third.

After an Edwards’ steal, Emily Nelson singled in Mathews and moved Edwards to third. Nelson took second, and after a Megan Revelle strikeout, Madison Cabell reached on a fielder’s choice as her ground ball to short stop was deep enough to score the speedy Edwards.

A pair of Tyler strikeouts left the pair of Indians on base.

Poquoson pushed across a run in the bottom of the second, to cut the Indian lead to 2-1. Southampton junior pitcher Ashlee Buehner got one of her four strikeouts, and left the bases loaded and the Indian lead intact.

In the bottom of the fourth, Poquoson used a pair of walks, a hit batter and a base hit to tie the game 2-2.

In the top of the fifth, the Lady Indians got back both of

those runs, taking back the lead 4-2. Senior Regina Artis led off the inning with a slap single and moved to second on a passed ball. Edwards followed with a double down the right field line, scoring Artis.

Nelson was next up and she singled in Edwards, building the Indian lead back up.

In the bottom half of the inning, another hit batter and another walk led to the Bull Islanders’ final run of the afternoon, making it 4-3.

The top of the sixth had the Indians threatening again, but only managed to score one time. Buehner led off with a single and freshman TaLisha Jenkins was inserted as a pinch runner. Jenkins stole second base and was brought in on an infield single by Marisa Cabell as the throw made

its way by the first basemen.

Poquoson and Southampton both went down in order in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, respectively.

In the bottom of the seventh, a pair of singles with one out put the tying run on first. After a pop-out to Mathews at shortstop, Poquoson was down to its final out.

A line drive to left field went off the heel of Katie Ferguson’s glove, but without hesitation, she fired home.

And in a combination of a great throw by Ferguson, an outstanding job blocking the plate and holding on to the

ball, Revelle put the final out in the books and punched Southampton’s ticket to the Region I semi-finals.

“I am extremely proud of our defense, which was solid tonight,” said Lady Indian Coach Susan Melbye. “We were so aggressive in the batter’s box and on the base paths. Maggie Tyler is a great pitcher, but we were able to put some pressure on their defense and force them to make some mistakes.”

“We were able to take advantage of those mistakes and limit our own,” Melbye added “I am so proud of these girls, but we need to refocus and be ready for York next.”