Raelyn Owens makes her way to third during a stand-up triple in the bottom of hte fourth for Tiftarea.

CHULA – Tiftarea Academy got a little confidence under its belt Thursday. The Lady Panthers won their first softball game of the season, 14-2, over visiting Valdosta.

The young Tiftarea team had dropped their first three contests before a Cloe Sercer fourth inning single brought home Calla Joyner to walk off the victory.

The Lady Panthers sent at least six hitters to the plate in every frame, batting around in the fourth. Olivia Monfort earned the victory, getting seven of the 12 outs by strikeout.

Tiftarea’s 14 runs came courtesy of eight hits, two by Raelyn Owens. Owens, Sercer and Carley Reese each drove in two runs. Four runs crossed because of bases loaded walks.

Two runs started the afternoon. Katelyn Brown led off with a walk and was home on a wild pitch before the second batter, Carmen Corkern, also drew a walk. Joyner caused a Valdosta error, bringing home Corkern.

At the end of the second, the game was out of reach as Tiftarea tacked on six more.

Maggie Vickery, Brown and Owens loaded the bags with one out, then came consecutive RBI walks to Joyner, Monfort, Chloe Brand and Sercer. Reese broke the string with a single that plated two to make it 8-0.

Owens drove in Corkern for the lone run of the third.

Valdosta scored its two runs in the top of the fourth.

Charlee Futch singled to right and Hayden Peterson walked to have two on with no outs. Naveah Walstorm poked a single past second to drive home both runs.

With its lead cut to 9-2, Tiftarea went back to work in the bottom half.

McKenna Graham reached on an error and stole second, coming in on a double by Brown. Owens then blasted a standup triple to deep right to go ahead 11-2.

Owens scored on an error off Joyner’s bat. Joyner was the 12th run on a pitch that got away after Monfort struck out.

Monfort made her bag, able to move over to third as Emmy Brannen earned a walk. Sercer then ended the game on her hit up the middle.

Tiftarea will have a week to soak in the victory. Their next game is Aug. 22 at home against Southwest Georgia Academy.