DUE WEST, S.C. --- Laurel Gregg (Mars Hill,
N.C.) hurled eight scoreless innings and struck out ten Erskine
College batters to pace the Lees-McRae College softball team to a
1-0 victory in game one of a Conference Carolinas twin-bill on
Thursday afternoon. The Flying Fleet (17-14-1, 10-4 CC) utilized a
walk-off home run to grasp victory in game two, with Larissa
Shannon blasting the winner to earn a 3-1 Fleet victory over the
Bobcats (18-23, 6-6 CC).
Gregg struck out ten and allowed just three hits en route to her
ninth win of the season, pacing the Bobcats to the game one
victory. Alison Armstrong (Bellingham, Mass.) and Paige Coleman
(Thomasville, N.C.) each tallied an RBI for Lees-McRae on the
day.
Shannon's blast in the bottom of the ninth inning in game two
tallied the final two runs for Erskine on the day, picking up the
walk-off victory to battle to a split with the Bobcats. Heather
Richey earned the victory for the Fleet, throwing nine solid
innings, allowing one run and five hits from the cirlcle.
Game One: Lees-McRae 1, Erskine 0 - 8 innings (Box Score)
The Bobcats overcame an early spark from the Fleet in the
opening frame, shutting down the Erskine threat when Shannon and
Morgan Purcell reached to put runners on second and third with two
out. Gregg then registered her second strikeout of the day to
close the first inning and keep the scoreboard unblemished.
Coleman broke through in the top of the fifth inning, reaching
base on a leadoff single to break up Kelsey Spurrier's no-hit
attempt. The Bobcats threatened again in the sixth, putting
Kierstie Moon (Oxford, Ga.) and Karli Robb (Hayes, Va.) at second
and third before a strike out quelled the threat and moved action
into the seventh inning.
The Bobcats struck in the top half of the eighth inning, taking
advantage of the tie-break rule and opening the inning with Anna
Carter (Hurdle Mills, N.C.) at second. Armstrong took advantage,
ripping a single to score Carter and give LMC the 1-0 advantage.
Gregg closed the contest in the bottom of the inning, retiring the
side in order to earn the win.
Game Two: Erskine 3, Lees-McRae 1 - 9 innings (Box Score)
Moon opened the second contest in the top of the first, drawing
a leadoff walk and moving to second on a sacrifice play from Robb
with one out. Coleman garnered an RBI two batters later, stroking a
single to drive in Moon and give the Bobcats the 1-0 advantage.
The Bobcats held the one-run advantage until the home half of
the seventh inning, when Purcell roped a double to open the frame.
Following a groundout and a strikeout, Whitney Brown laced a single
to the grass to score Purcell and send the game into extra innings
tied at 1-1.
The Fleet battled to shut down the Bobcats in the next two
innings. Jocelyn Smith opened the ninth inning at second and
following a strikeout, crossed the plate when Shannon belted the
game winner over the fence to give Erskine the walk-off
victory.
Magen West (Whitney, Texas) allowed four hits and struck out
four in eight and one-third innings pitched, falling to 8-10 on the
year in a tough battle.
Lees-McRae returns to the diamond on Saturday when the Bobcats
play host to Barton College in Conference Carolinas play. Game
time on Saturday is slated for a 1 p.m. start in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Bobcats wrap up their home schedule on Sunday, hosting Queens
University of Charlotte in conference play on Bobcat Field. Game
time on Sunday is slated for 2 p.m.
-LMC-
