GOOD HOPE — The best way to describe the lead for Good Hope in the seventh inning of Thursday’s home and season softball opener against West Point was like a boomerang.

Throw it away in the top half.

Get it right back with the win on the line.

Erika Woodall slid in safely on a squeeze by Mallorie Kauffman to cap off a 3-2 comeback in a rematch of last year’s county tourney championship.

Josie McDonald cruised through six no-hit innings — the Good Hope ace’s lone blemish up to that point was a walk in the third — before giving up her first hit to Courtney Blackwood. A trio of throw-arounds on the play allowed Olivia Ball to score, and another error shortly thereafter suddenly had the Warriors up 2-1.

The heart of the Raiders’ order made sure it didn’t stick.

McDonald started the inning with a walk and was promptly moved over by a Bailey Starnes sacrifice bunt. Woodall followed with a single, McDonald scored the tying run on a passed ball, Morgan Goodwin made it to first on an infield bunt and Kauffman sealed the walk-off with the well-placed squeeze.

Woodall gave Good Hope, which left nine runners on base, a 1-0 lead with an RBI grounder that got away into left field in the fifth inning.

Goodwin was 3 for 4. Woodall and Skylar Tucker were each 2 for 4. Starnes, MaKailey Speegle and Derekia Tankersley had a hit apiece.

Goodwin and Speegle sported doubles, the latter’s a shot only inches from clearing the left field fence.

McDonald wasn’t affected by near-freezing temperatures a bit, striking out six and yielding just one hit and one walk to collect the complete game victory.

“I’m hot right now. I was sweating the whole game,” the junior said. “We’re starting off better than we did last year at the ending, so we’re just going to keep getting better.”

Aside from the rollercoaster seventh inning, Tim Hodson’s head coaching debut was mostly smooth sailing. Hodson replaces Wayne Harris, who was let go by Good Hope in the offseason after a seven-year stint that included five regional berths, back-to-back state appearances in 2012-13 and Class 3A Coach of the Year honors in 2013.

“They finished —and that’s what’s important. I’m proud of them for that,” Hodson said. “They could’ve just kept down on themselves and it been all over.”

The biggest addition to the Raiders’ coaching staff is Chris Harris. Though technically an assistant with Monica Bates, Harris has been given free reign of the varsity squad while Hodson gets his bearings.

Harris doubles as the school’s varsity boys basketball coach but has far more experience on the softball diamond. His résumé is highlighted by a state title while atop Parrish in 2013.

“Just watching him, i felt like it’s going to be better for them — because this team has a lot of potential — if instead of me trying to learn on the job, I let him handle this on varsity,” Hodson said. “He knows what he’s doing, it’s all natural to him and I’m learning his system. That way I’ll be able to step in. There’s things he knows to do that I might have to think about. By then it’s too late.”

Jeri Beasley went the distance in West Point’s first game under Eric Pendley, striking out six and giving up 10 hits and four walks.

The Warriors’ defense bent but didn’t break through the opening four frames, thanks to web gems by outfielders Tess Hembree and Jordyn Kimbrell, as well as the arm of catcher Olivia Ball, who caught a runner trying to steal third to end the second inning.

Pendley takes over after a long tenure by Kevin Sullins, who stepped down after consecutive county championships and a trip to the 5A regionals.

“Our defense played well behind Jeri. She pitched hard. She competed,” he said. “I just love the way our team competed today. They didn’t quit. They fought back in that seventh inning and put us back ahead. All in all, I’m proud for the first game.”