WINTERVILLE, N.C. - The Harford women's softball team won its Region opener on Friday, but it was anything but easy. The Fighting Owls erased a five-run deficit with a six-run seventh inning, capped by a walk-off, two-run single by rightfielder Julia Sanders to defeat USC Salkehatchie, 10-9.

The No. 4 Fighting Owls played sloppy and allowed the No. 5 Indians to score seven-straight runs and take a 9-4 lead into the final frame. Sanders walk-off single was hit between third and short, and with the bases loaded, pinch runners Taylor Smith and Jazmyn Gutshall raced home for the playoff winner.

Britney Fleming hit a single and Tori Brooks doubled to start the comeback bid. Desi Joines laced a two-run double to the fence in left-center and Fabiana Della-Monica connected on her second home run of the afternoon to make the score 9-8.

Mackenzie Fitzgerald walked and Katie Shultz blooped a single to center to help set the stage. Smith, who pinch ran for Fitzgerald had to wait to see if it would be caught before racing to second safely. Lindsey Fenner singled off the glove of a diving third baseman to load the bases before Sanders ended the game with her first hit of the afternoon, the biggest one of the day.

Joines and Della-Monica blasted back-to-back home runs in the first inning to give Harford a 3-1 lead. Fitzgerald doubled home Joines in the third to give the Fighting Owls a 4-2 lead, but USC Salkehatchie took control for the next three innings.

The Indians took the lead in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs on RBI singles and a two-run home run off Shultz. Joines came in to help stop the bleeding, but also wasn't sharp, allowing three runs, all unearned. A three-run fifth inning looked like it may send the Fighting Owls to the losers' bracket, until the six-run outburst.

Harford advances to face No. 1 Spartanburg Methodist on Saturday at 10 a.m. The Fighting Owls will play at least two games, weather permitting on Saturday.