
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 7, 1994                   TAG: 9408080068
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD WINS IN DIXIE DEBS WORLD SERIES

Sue Cowlbeck's three-RBI triple led a seven-run fourth inning as Bedford National defeated Texas 13-4 in the first round of the Dixie Debs World Series on Saturday at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem.

In other games, defending champion Tennessee defeated Salem 6-2, Mississipi pounded Arkansas 19-3, North Carolina defeated Alabama 5-3 and Louisiana edged South Carolina 5-4.

Bedford, the Virginia state representative in the event, got two-RBI performances from Lisa Carr, Melissa Dooley and Monica Byers. Byers also scored two runs. Bedford pitchers Kaira Goff, Anna Bramlett and Crystal Daniels combined for nine strikeouts.

With the game tied at 4, Bedford sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth, turning five hits and two hits into the decisive rally.

In the final game of the evening, Tennessee capitalized on four Salem errors to defeat the host team, despite being out-hit.

Leading 3-2 heading into in the bottom of the sixth, Tennessee scored three runs on three singles to put the game away. Tennessee's Jessica Denning had a two-RBI single in the rally.

Salem pitcher Rhonda Rankin limited Tennessee to four hits, but was victimized by spotty fielding.

In today's games, Bedford faces Louisiana at 7 p.m. and Mississippi will take on Tennessee at 8 p.m. in the winners' bracket. In the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament, Alabama takes on Texas at 5 p.m. and Salem faces Arkansas at 6.

by CNB