LUMBERTON — With one swing of the bat, Lumberton’s Kacey Dent atoned for her two previous plate appearances in Wednesday’s Southeastern Conference clash with Hoke.

Dent — who had popped out twice earlier in the contest — stepped into the batter’s box with two outs and runners at first and third in the bottom of the fifth.

She connected on a line drive to right center for a two-run triple that sparked the Pirates to a 4-2 victory.

“I just had to make up for my mistakes,” Dent said. “We hit their pitcher pretty good the last time we saw her. I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves because it was Senior Night. Once we calmed down, we hit the ball.”

The Bucks (3-13, 1-9) nearly pulled off the upset behind the pitching of Ashley McCraney. She stymied the Pirate bats for three innings before running into trouble in the fourth, fifth and sixth.

Lumberton loaded the bases on McCraney in the fourth with three singles and pushed a run across on a passed ball. The Pirates (11-8, 4-6) tallied an unearned run for insurance in their final at-bats in the sixth.

McCraney’s counterpart, Lumberton’s Meagan Skipper was able to hurl her way out of trouble for the majority of the contest. The Bucks scored single runs in the second and sixth despite having a baserunner in all seven innings. Skipper never allowed Hoke to put two players on base in the same inning.

Lumberton’s victory sets up another possible meeting between the Pirates and the Bucks in the opening round of next week’s SEC tournament.

Scotland earned the top seed, while Purnell Swett will also have a bye as the second seed. Richmond will be No. 3, followed by Lumberton.

“Hoke and Pinecrest are tied and they will flip a coin to break the tie,” Lumberton coach Hannah Baffaro said. “We will play whoever wins the coin flip Monday at home.”

Bulldogs push into Three Rivers Conference tournament semifinals

CERRO GORDO — Tommy Townsend’s St. Pauls Bulldogs upset No. 3 seed South Robeson, 5-1, Wednesday in the Three Rivers Conference baseball tournament at West Columbus High School.

Kalem Hunt went the distance for St. Pauls (7-12), giving up a single run and two hits. Colby Inman had three hits in five plate appearances for the Bulldogs. Casey Chavis took the loss for the Mustangs (15-6).

Red Springs beats West Columbus in first round

CERRO GORDO — Red Springs pounded out 15 hits Wednesday in an 18-12 victory over West Columbus in the first round of the Three Rivers Conference baseball tournament.