WENDELL — Opportunity knocked for both teams, but Knightdale was the only squad able to capitalize in Tuesday’s season-ending, senior night softball game at East Wake.

The 2-1 Lady Knight win made the team a five seed exiting conference play, paving the way for its state playoff berth. The first-round game was played yesterday, Tuesday, at Richmond County. Results were not available at press time.

Both East Wake and Knightdale were nixed in the opening round of the conference tournament that began last Thursday. East Wake fell behind two runs in the bottom of the fifth to West Johnston and could never recover. Knightdale took one on the chin after going up 6-1 over Holly Springs. Despite a grand slam from Knightdale’s C.J. Moose that put the team up 4-0 in the top of the sixth, the Golden Hawks went on a six-run hitting spree in the bottom of the seventh to pull the last second victory.

In Wendell, the Knights’ win over the Warriors was triggered in the top of the fourth after Samantha Cox smacked a pitch to center field. East Wake senior Tabitha Poole fielded the ball, and held Cox to a single, but Cox stirred things up by stealing second. Senior catcher Mariah Souder’s throw was high and the ball slipped past second and past Poole — backing up second from center field — who attempted to dive in to make the play. Cox trucked in the extra two bases for the 1-0 lead.

The lead spread to 2-0 after Knightdale pitcher Kayla Boggs walked in the top of the seventh. After Taylor Cnossen was subbed in as Boggs’ pinch runner she stole second and Paige Peterson stepped up to the plate and made the theft worthwhile. Her base hit plated Knightdale’s second and final score. Peterson went on from first to steal second and then third before Moose grounded out to East Wake’s Shelbey Bishop.

Trailing two with one last try at the plate, Warrior pitcher Katie Watkins stepped up to try to even the count, but was dismissd swinging hard on a rising pitch from Boggs. Souder stepped up to the plate next and hit a solo home run over the fence — and Lady Knight Lexi Brock followed in an attempt to make a play.

The senior night, senior explosion was the last action to come from the Warrior bats. Mercedes Rico grounded out before Whitney Betts took two strikes and popped up to Anna Powell in right field to end the game.

Mishaps like the one which gave the Knights their first run of the night could’ve played to the Warriors’ favor in the bottom of the first inning after Bishop’s base hit.

Heather Brannan rolled one to Boggs, who opted for the play at second where Hannah Short made the play on Bishop for out No. 2. With Brannan safe on first, Watkins cranked another shot straight to Boggs. Boggs turned and overthrew first base, mirroring the scenario that favored the Knights in the fourth. The visitors gathered and turned to third where Brannan was clearly safe.

Fans and players, alike, were caught off-guard when Short cut off the throw to third, while centerfielder Peterson snuck in behind Watkins at second to receive the throw and lay down the tag after Watkins drifted too far off the base. The play ended the inning, sending base runners on second and third to the dugout.

The top of the third was no different in terms of excitement, and in the fact that no damage was done. With two outs, Knightdale’s Peterson opened with a strike before striping the ball to right center. The would-be triple turned into a final out after Bishop overthrew third base and Peterson turned toward home. Watkins came off the mound, collected the loose ball and fired a vector to Souder at home, beating Peterson to the plate as she stirred up dust on the slide.

The Knights recorded four hits to the Warriors’ two, each team producing one earned run. Watkins fanned 11 in her duties on the mound. Boggs dismissed six.

“She (Watkins) is a very tough pitcher,” Knightdale coach Ben Vessa said after the game.

Vessa said the game against East Wake is always a tough one — not that the teams don’t play hard in every game — but it seems they turn things up a notch for the showdown of neighboring towns.

“They always play us well. The girls all know each other and I think it makes them play harder,” Vessa said.

Warrior coach Christina Stevenson said her team played to the end.

“It is what it is,” she said. “They come out and go all out — that’s a rivalry.”

The win bumped Knightdale to 11-11, 5-9 in the Greater Neuse, sending the team into Thursday’s conference tournament in Smithfield as a five seed. East Wake dropped to 3-11 in the conference, claiming the seventh seed in the conference tourney.