Briar Woods, which improved to 17-2 overall, scored six runs in the first and rode the stellar pitching of sophomore Macy Jones and junior Kristina Karagiorgis, who combined on a two-hit shutout.

Briar Woods will return to action Tuesday, May 25 in the Dulles District semifinals at 7 p.m. The top-seeded Falcons, who earned a quarterfinal bye after claiming their first district regular-season title with a perfect 12-0 record, will host the winner of Friday’s semifinal contest between fourth-seeded Potomac Falls and fifth-seeded Loudoun County.

Briar Woods has also locked up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Region II tournament and will host the Northwestern District runner-up in the region quarterfinals Monday, May 31. The game’s starting time has not been announced.

In Wednesday night’s victory over Fauquier, Briar Woods took control early with six runs in the first inning behind three singles, two walks and two Fauquier errors. Briar Woods loaded the bases when Karagioirgis and senior Kate Fowler sandwiched walks around a single by Jones. Junior Kasey Ball then sent a hard shot to third, and the ball glanced off the third baseman’s glove and rolled into foul territory down the left field line, allowing both Karagiorgis and Jones to score.

Briar Woods loaded the bases again when junior Jillian Olson’s grounder was misplayed, and freshman Lynn Brantley followed with a two-run single to plate Fowler and Ball and give the hosts a 4-0 lead.

Both Olson and Brantley later scored on wild pitches as Briar Woods increased its cushion to 6-0.

Briar Woods struck for two more runs in the fourth. Senior Holly Dominguez opened the frame with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Karagiorgis. Jones followed with a single, and Fowler grounded out to drive in Dominguez. Jones later scored on a passed ball to cap the scoring.

Jones and Karagiorgis combined on a two-hit shutout and struck out 13. Jones worked the first five innings, allowing a single and striking out eight, to pick up the win. She set down the first five Fauquier hitters before giving up a slow infield single with two outs in the second. That runner was quickly erased when Olson threw her out trying to steal second.

Karagiorgis gave up just one hit over the final two frames. She struck out five, including the final four batters to close out the game.

Karagiorgis went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, a walk, a sacrifice and a run scored. Jones went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Dominguez, Brantley and junior Alex Fierszt also singled.

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