Banner Elk, NC--Freshman pitcher Magen West (Whitney, TX) was
credited with both wins Tuesday afternoon as the Lady Bobcats swept
the visiting St. Andrews Presbyterian Lady Knights in women's
softball action. After winning the first game of the double header
4-3 in nine innings the Lady Bobcats went on to claim a 10-2
victory in five innings in the nightcap.
Lees-McRae evens their record at 18-18 for the year and now
stands at 8-12 in league play. St. Andrews falls to 9-32
(3-15).
GAME ONE
LMC 4 St. Andrews 3
Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week Amanda Dodson (Walnut
Cove, NC) proved why she was selected this afternoon when she shut
out the Lady Knights for six innings and struck out eight batters
in eight innings pitched before handing the ball over to West with
the score tied 3-3 in the ninth. West claimed the win after
striking out one and allowing no hits.
The Lady Bobcats got on the boards first in the bottom of the
sixth when Nicole Baxter (Denver, NC), who had reached base on an
error, scored off a single by West. The Lady Knights answered back
in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on two hits and an error
to tie the game.
Forced into extra innings St. Andrews, with a runner placed on
second, led off with a double by Jasmine Dobbin (Pikeville, NC).
Brianna Shurtleff (Colton, CA) immediately followed with another
double, scoring Dobbin to put the Lady Knights up 3-1. Dodson
recovered, lining out the next batter then striking out the final
Lady Knight at the plate. In a must-score situation junior Salle'
Horner (Lexington, SC), with a runner on second, hit a two-run
homer to tie the score at 3-3.
In the bottom of the ninth with Dodson placed on second, two
freshmen stepped up to the task with clutch hits. Paige Coleman
(Thomasville, NC) got her second hit of the game when she singled
up the middle advancing Dodson, then Anna Carter (Hurdle Mills, NC)
singled, driving in the winning run.
GAME TWO
LMC 10 St. Andrews 2
Nicole Baxter led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo
homerun to put the Lady Bobcats on the board early. Back-to-back
errors put two Lady Bobcats on base when West singled. The Lady
Knights were able to pick off the lead runner but with two runners
left on base Paige Coleman slammed a three-run homer over the fence
to put the Lady Bobcats up 4-0.
In the second the Bobcats offense broke lose again, this time
scoring six runs on four hits and two errors by the Lady Knights.
Zsachlayne Roguska (Port Charlotte, FL), Horner, and Paula Fryar
(Clinton, NC) all singled in the innings with each adding an RBI to
their total. Coleman added two more RBIs, bringing her RBI game
total to five. The Lady Bobcats now had a commanding 10-0 lead.
With a strong defense and Magen West on the mound the Lady
Knights were held scoreless until the top of the fourth when they
scored an unearned run on a double after putting runners on with an
error and passed ball. The Lady Knights' first two batters singled
and doubled, scoring a run, but the rally would not last as
Lees-McRae's defense stopped the Lady Knights in their tracks to
claim the 10-2 victory.
The Lady Bobcats resume play Wednesday afternoon, when they host
UVA-Wise in a non-conference matchup. Games are set to begin at
3:00pm and 5:00pm.
Pictured Top Left: Magen West
Bottom Upper: Paige Coleman driving in some of her five
RBIs
Bottom Lower: Nicole Baxter
