Lady Pirates rally to advance to finals (VIDEO)

The Braden River High softball team scored six unanswered runs to defeat rival Lakewood Ranch 6-4 in the Class 4A-Region 3 semifinals April 29.

With the win, the Lady Pirates will make their first—ever appearance in the regional finals when they travel to Barron Collier May 3.

Trailing 4-0 after two innings, Braden River cut Lakewood’s lead in half in the top of the third inning before taking its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning.

Brooke Ribarich hit an RBI single to pull Braden River within a run. Later in the inning, Ashley Allard hit a two-run single, giving the Lady Pirates a 5-4 lead.

Braden River added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning when Hannah Loyer hit a triple and came around to score on a RBI single by Elena Lopez.

Braden River pitcher Courtney Mirabela, who allowed four runs on four hits and a walk in the first two innings, eventually found her rhythm, striking out five of her final six outs to preserver the win for the Lady Pirates.

Lakewood scored its first four runs on RBI singles by Dana Hutchins and McKaleigh Goodale and scrifice flys by Sarah Burnett and Taylor Newton.

Mirabella, Jessica Cadorette and Loyer all finished with two hits for Braden River and Trotter led the way for Lakewood with two hits, including a double. Newton also added a double. 

Scroll down for videos of both squads.