Mid-Carolina hosts Region III-2A leader Gilbert 7 p.m. tonight

The Mid-Carolina softball team had a golden opportunity to play for a share of the Region III-2A lead slip away.

The Rebels fell at Saluda 5-2 Wednesday just minutes after league-leader Gilbert lost to Batesburg-Leesville.

The Indians’ loss drops them to within one game of Saluda in the loss column heading into the final three games of the regular season.

If Mid-Carolina would have won, Friday’s game against Gilbert would have been for a share of the region lead.

Instead, the Rebels are 4-3 in the league, with games against Batesburg-Leesville and Newberry next week.

Saluda took advantage of almost all of its opportunities in Wednesday’s game.

Four of the five baserunners that eventually scored reached on walks, and two came home on infield errors. One run was walked in and other scored on a wild pitch.

Mid-Carolina outhit Saluda 6-4, but stranded runners in four of the seven innings.

After falling behind 4-0 after three innings, Mid-Carolina freshman catcher Jessica Traylor doubled to the gap in right to leadoff the fourth.

Just before the next at-bat, the lights at the park went dark and the game was delayed for nearly 30 minutes.

When play resumed, Mindy Dana came up with a big two-out single to right that plated Traylor.

Mid-Carolina added its other run in the sixth on an RBI groundout by Erica Stone. Third baseman Charlene Hester doubled to leadoff the inning and was moved to third on a Traylor groundout.

Lori Fulmer and Erin Bailey each finished 1-for-3.

Leadoff hitter Shannon Traylor singled in the second inning and had a leaping catch in centerfield that saved at least one run.