Being at the bottom of the batting order in extra innings usually isn’t a good thing in high school softball, but that was not the case Tuesday for sixth-ranked Hayden.

Alyssa Phillips, the ninth batter in the lineup, hit the first home run of a career at an opportune time, as the Wildcats walked off with a 2-0 victory over Good Hope in eight innings.

The teams battled tooth and nail during regulation play, with the Cats scattering five hits and the Raiders four. Starter Sharley Miller worked 4-2/3 innings, then giving way to Katie Parr to finish.

It’s the last game before Hayden hits the crucial home stretch of its regular-season schedule, with four Area 12 games in eight days’ time: home and away with fifth-ranked Curry, one at Mortimer Jordan and another against Walker. The Yellow Jackets come to visit on Thursday.