BANNER ELK, N.C. --- The Belmont Abbey College
softball team launched three home runs and held Lees-McRae College
to one run on six hits en route to a doubleheader sweep on Saturday
afternoon in Conference Carolinas play at the Bobcat Softball
Field.
Belmont Abbey (13-33, 6-14 CC) won game one by a tally of 4-0,
while defeating Lees-McRae (13-32, 4-14 CC) by a 5-1 margin in the
night cap. The Abbey collected 16 base knocks on the day, including
four extra-base hits, as the Bobcats hit the ball hard but were
unable to find a hole.
The Bobcats honored seniors Kim Coley (Marion, N.C.), Laurel
Gregg (Mars Hill, N.C.), Lindsey Huntsinger (Asheville, N.C.), and
Amanda Leonard (Lincolnton, N.C.) prior to the first pitch of game
one with their annual senior day celebration. Kristen Oakes
(Lenoir, N.C.) paced the Bobcats with two hits on the day, driving
in a run in game two, as Coley, Karli Robb (Hayes, Va.), Kierstie
Moon (Oxford, Ga.), and Alison Armstrong (Bellingham, Mass.) each
collected a base knock.
Gregg took the ball in game one, surrendering three earned runs
on eight hits while striking out four in a complete-game effort.
Holli Crickenberger (Boydton, Va.) got the nod in the nightcap,
allowing three runs on four hits and striking out four in five
innings of work. Oakes tossed the final two innings, allowing one
earned run and striking out two.
Aleshia Peek led the way for Belmont Abbey with a 4-for-7 day,
launching three home runs and driving in four, as Carol-Anne
Sherrill added three hits of her own. Kelly Schweizer and Shannon
Arthur each collected two hits, as Peek and Schweizer scored three
and two runs, respectively. Nikki Faust tossed a gem in game one,
scattering three hits across seven shutout innings and striking out
two. Emily Self took the ball in game two, allowing one run on
three hits in seven innings of work.
Game One: Belmont Abbey 4, Lees-McRae 0 (Box Score)
The Abbey got on the board early in game one, taking a 1-0 lead
in the top of the first when Arthur drove in Schweizer from third.
Belmont Abbey added a run in the fourth, pushing the lead to 2-0
following Peek's first home run of the day, a solo shot.
The Crusaders would double the margin to 4-0 with two runs in
the sixth after RBI base knocks by Amber Faust and Katie Childers.
Nikki Faust would allow just one runner to reach scoring position
over the course of the contest, surrendering a leadoff double to
Coley in the seventh before retiring the next three batters in
order to close out the win.
Game Two: Belmont Abbey 5, Lees-McRae 1 (Box Score)
Belmont Abbey struck first in the nightcap, taking a 1-0 lead in
the second on a well-placed sacrifice bunt by Brooke Baliles that
allowed pinch-runner Kaylie Mae Kuhnke to scamper home from third.
The Bobcats would answer in the bottom of the inning, knotting the
score at 1-1 when Oakes stroked an RBI single to right center after
Robb led off the frame with a double.
The Abbey countered with a run in the top of the third,
reclaiming the lead at 2-1 when Peek launched a solo home run to
right. Peek would drive in another run in the fifth with an RBI
single, before launching her third solo home run of the day in the
seventh as part of a two-run inning that pushed the margin to 5-1.
Self would finish strong in the circle for Belmont Abbey, retiring
the final 10 batters she faced to clinch the twin-bill sweep.
Lees-McRae returns to the diamond on Sunday when the Bobcats
host Mount Olive College in a conference twin-bill at 2 p.m. on the
Bobcat Softball Field.
- LMC -
