HARROGATE, Tenn. --- The Lees-McRae College
softball team rallied for a 3-1 victory in game one of a
doubleheader at Lincoln Memorial University to split the twin-bill
with the Railsplitters on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference
play.
Lees-McRae (4-1) won the first game by a 3-1 margin in
come-from-behind fashion, as Lincoln Memorial (3-1) shut out the
Bobcats by a score of 3-0 in the nightcap. Each team collected 10
hits on the day, while LMU tallied five stolen bases on six
attempts.
Kierstie Moon (Oxford, Ga.), Lindsey Huntsinger (Asheville,
N.C.), and Mercedes Northrop (McDonough, Ga.) paced the Bobcats
with two hits each, as Moon and Amanda Leonard (Lincolnton, N.C.)
both drove in a run.
Laurel Gregg (Mars Hill, N.C.) made the start in game one and
three seven strong innings, earning the win by allowing one run and
scattering six hits while striking out nine. Holli Crickenberger
(Boydton, Va.) got the nod in game two, allowing three runs on four
hits and striking out four in five innings of work. Kristen Oakes
(Lenoir, N.C.) tossed a shutout sixth inning in game two with one
strikeout.
Amanda Snow, Cierra Mudd, Bridget Eicher, and Kristin Dutton
each tallied a pair of hits for the Railsplitters, as Snow clubbed
a home run in game one and drove in a run in the nightcap. Sarah
Walz also drove in a run for LMU on the afternoon.
Meghan LaFevor made the start in game one, allowing three runs
on seven hits and striking out eight in seven innings of work. Snow
got the nod in the nightcap, tossing a three-hit shutout while
recording 15 strikeouts.
Game One: Lees-McRae 3, Lincoln Memorial 1 - Box Score
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, when
Lincoln Memorial took a 1-0 lead on Snow's solo shot to deep left
center. Lees-McRae answered in the seventh, putting runners on
first and second following a bunt single by Northrop. Alison
Armstrong (Bellingham, Mass.) then laced a single to right,
advancing to second on the throw as the Railsplitters gunned down
Oakes at home to maintain the one-run lead.
Leonard followed with a clutch pinch-hit single on a bunt
between the pitcher and catcher, beating out the throw to first and
allowing Lori Fulmer (Prosperity, S.C.) to score from third to even
the score at 1-1. Armstrong then scored on a passed ball to give
the Bobcats a 2-1 lead before Moon laced a single through the left
side to score Brooke Sheridan (Rosman, N.C.) and push the margin to
3-1.
Gregg sealed the win in the bottom of the frame, retiring the
first two batters of the inning before Armstrong threw out Eicher
at second attempting the swipe the bag.
Game Two: Lincoln Memorial 3, Lees-McRae 0 - Box Score
The nightcap remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth,
when Walz singled home LaFevor to give the Railsplitters a 1-0
advantage. Lincoln Memorial added two runs in the fifth, pushing
the lead to 3-0 following a leadoff double by Brittani Bezanson,
who scored on an ensuing Bobcat error. Snow then laced an RBI
single to right field, plating Taylor McGinnis from third to equal
the final margin of 3-0.
Lees-McRae returns to the diamond on Saturday when the Bobcats
travel to Greeneville, Tenn. to take on Tusculum College in a
non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
- LMC -
