ANDERSON, S.C. --- Sophomore Sarah Stallings enjoyed a three-hit day coupled with a trio of stolen bases, but the Lees-McRae softball team dropped its season-opening doubleheader to Anderson (S.C.), 10-5, 3-0, Saturday at Smethers Field in Anderson, S.C.
The Trojans (2-0) used a five-RBI outburst from Cailah Niles while the pitching staff combined for a one-hitter in game two. The Bobcats (0-2) enjoyed a complete game effort from sophomore Taylor Billings (Sophia, N.C.) in game two while senior catcher Amanda Decker (Apex, N.C.) produced a pair of hits.
Anderson 10, LMC 5
Stallings (Greensboro, N.C.) got LMC off to a solid start when she scored following a Sarah Tucker (Monroe, N.C.) RBI single in the top of the first.
Stallings continued to pester AU defense with an RBI double and then scored after stealing third and an errant throw from Niles.
Niles plated an unearned run with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the second.
Bobcat freshman Kara Travis (Conover, N.C.) notched her first collegiate hit with a single through the right side, scoring Decker.
Following an LMC error, Rebecca Martin tied the game with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fourth.
Travis would strike again, plating Tucker, thanks to an AU error.
The Trojans erupted for a six-spot in the fifth, powered by a two-run double from Niles and a bases-clearing double from Chelsea Jones, four batters later.
Sophomore Charlie Dutton (Monroe, Ga.) suffered the loss (0-1) despite allowing one earned run in 2.1 innings of work.
Anderson 3, LMC 0
AU launched back-to-back jacks in the bottom of the fourth to break a scoreless tie.
Augie Pena was dominate in the circle while allowing one hit in six innings of work and striking out eight LMC batters.
The Trojans added an insurance run with an RBI double from Bri Cason in the bottom of the sixth.
Billings kept the Trojans at bay for most of the contest while striking out five.
Coach Merritt Yackey's squad returns to action Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. in Hickory, N.C. to battle Lenoir-Rhyne and Mercyhurst, respectively.
- LMC -
