CARRINGTON (NewsDakota)- If they had a team clubhouse, there’s more than a slight chance that Carrington softball would’ve been blaring out the slightly altered version of NSYNC’s 2000 hit “It’s Gonna Be Me” while singing “It’s Gonna Be May” at the top of their lungs going into Friday’s showdown with May-Port CG/Hatton-Northwood.

Because the month of May has been historic in so many ways for the program over the last two seasons. And they got this one started in stunning fashion.

Maara Kutz delivered a walk-off two-run triple in the last of the seventh inning, capping a four-run comeback as Carrington defeated May-Port CG/Hatton-Northwood 11-10 for the program’s first ever win over the Patriots on Friday at Carrington Softball Diamond.

It could not have started better for the Patriots (3-6, 1-3 Region 2B) as the first three batters of the game scored on just two hits and the visitors led early.  After the Cards (4-3, 2-0 Region 2B) answered with a Kutz double and Calleigh Hewitt sacrifice fly and after Kambry Linderman singled home Lauren Hendrickson in the second to make it 3-2, the Patriots got back to work, scoring three runs on two hits in the third for a 6-2 lead. But the Cards responded with Brina Wolsky driving home Ella Volk in the fourth before Bailey Ness delivered a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 6-4.

May-Port CG/Hatton-Northwood would then add to the lead with two more runs in the sixth for an 8-5 lead.  Then Carrington tied it in the home half.  Aubrey Neis, Ness, and Linderman all singled and Kutz, Kenedy Trostad and Hewitt all delivered RBIs and the game was tied at 8.  But that was not even the dramatic part.

In the seventh, Oaklea Thomas reached on an error and Audrey Ringler delivered a go-ahead, two-run homer for a 10-8 Patriots advantage.  In the home half, Hendrickson scored Neis with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 10-9 with two out and the bases clear.  Ness was hit by a pitch, Linderman walked, and Kutz stepped up and hit a fly ball that was not caught, allowing both runners to score easily and Carrington won their fourth straight game.

The Cardinals will host Nelson County/Midkota on Monday at 4:30pm.  A win would all but secure a home qualifier on Saturday, May 16th.