MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. - The Lees-McRae College Lady Bobcats women's
softball team lost two one-run ball games, 2-1 and 1-0, to the
Mount Olive College Trojans Thursday afternoon in a Conference
Carolinas doubleheader sweep.
In the first game, Sarah Saunders gave up an infield single to
Veronica Ollier to start the game, then retired 11 consecutive
batters before allowing a two-out single in the fourth. Saunders
struck out five and scattered five hits for the game.
Lees-McRae (14-8, 3-3) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the
fifth as Meagan Knowles' one-out double put runners on second and
third. Kim Coley scored on Ashley Benfield's dribbler down the
third base line to put the Bobcats on top 1-0. Mount Olive escaped
further trouble with an inning-ending 1-4-2 double play as Saunders
retired Ollier at first and Katie Nalley threw Knowles out at the
plate.
Mount Olive (12-11-1, 3-1) had a base hit in each of the first
four innings, but was held scoreless until the bottom of the fifth.
Morgan Whaley doubled to center with one out, advanced to third on
a groundout and scored on Kat Cahoon's single through the right
side to tie the game 1-1.
Saunders retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh, while
Lees-McRae pitcher Katie Alexander withstood a sixth-inning error
and a two-out single in the seventh to force extra innings.
Lees-McRae advanced the international tie-breaker runner from
second to third on a sacrifice, but Saunders retired the next two
batters on groundouts to prevent the go-ahead run.
Cahoon was placed on second to start the bottom of the eighth
inning and advanced to third on Minshew's groundout. Alyssa
Bradshaw sent a 1-1 pitch up the middle to plate Cahoon and give
the Trojans the win. Cahoon and Bradshaw had two hits apiece as the
Trojans collected eight hits.
In the nightcap, Cahoon beat out an infield single with one out in
the bottom of the first, then stole second. Kelly Minshew drove a
pitch to center field to drive in Cahoon.
Mount Olive had a chance to break the game open in the bottom of
the fourth, capitalizing on a pair of throwing errors to load the
bases with one out. But Coley caught a fly ball in center and threw
a runner out at the plate for the inning-ending double play.
Magen West tossed a six-hitter in the loss.
Lees-McRae travels to St. Andrews Saturday at 2 p.m. for a
Conference Carolinas doubleheader.
Alexander was the only Lady Bobcat with more than one hit. She
had two singles in her two plate appearances.
Game one box score
Game two box score
Pictured: Kim Coley
