BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Freshman Sarah Tucker hit her first career home run and drove in four in game two, but the Lees-McRae softball team was upended in two tight contests to Southern Wesleyan Saturday in Conference Carolinas play at LMC Softball Field in Banner Elk, N.C.
Southern Wesleyan 4, Lees-McRae 2
The Warriors (20-17, 8-5 CC) overcame three errors and a complete game effort from Callie Wayne to win game one.
The Bobcats (5-32, 0-9) enjoyed a multi-hit game from sophomore Sarah Stallings (Greensboro, N.C.).
SWU's Allison Barbee started off her five-hit day with a RBI double in the top of the first, plating Lizzie Fela. Fela walked with one out in the inning.
Wayne helped her own cause with a one-out double, setting the table for Natalie Johnson.
Johnson dug in with two on and one out and lofted a sacrifice fly to center in the top of the third, 2-0.
Sophomore Charlie Dutton (Monroe, Ga.) drove in a run via groundout, plating Valerie Hickey (Umatilla, Fla.)
Hickey singled to left to lead off the bottom of the fourth. The sophomore had an incredible two games by bashing out four hits and scoring five runs.
LMC's Sarah Beth Ashley (Walkertown, N.C.) scored the game-tying run when Kara Travis (Conover, N.C.) reached on a fielding error.
Wayne (5-7) and Dutton (2-14) settled in until the seventh.
Fela led off the top of the frame with a single before Barbee broke the 2-all tie with a blast to left center.
Senior Tori Wright (Blowing Rock, N.C.) reached on a fielding error, but was unable to score while SWU claimed the win.
Dutton struck out five and scattered seven hits.
Southern Wesleyan 12, Lees-McRae 11 (9 Innings)
The Warriors (21-17, 9-5 CC) had six players record multi-hit games, including three-hit performances from Fela and Barbee.
The Bobcats (5-33, 0-10) rallied from four runs down in the bottom of the sixth while scoring a season-high 11 runs.
Freshman Alix Green (Little Mountain, S.C.) drove in the contest's first run with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second.
Travis made it 2-0 in the bottom of the second after a fielder's choice bunt scored Hickey.
SWU played a run in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.
LMC rallied for the first time after Tucker clobbered her first collegiate home run to center field, giving the Bobcats a 6-4 lead.
The Warriors returned the favor by hanging a six-spot in the top of the sixth. Taylor Fox delivered a two-run double before Fela cranked a three-run blast to center, 10-6.
Once again, LMC proved to be resilient and tied the contest at 10 in the bottom of the sixth.
Travis cleared the bases after roping a run-scoring single to left. On the play, SWU's Alyssa Mendoza overran the ball and allowed two more runs to score.
Tucker showed no fear and calmly tied the game with a run-scoring single before being thrown out at third, trying to advance on the play.
Both squads failed to score a run in the eighth, but Barbee connected on a two-run blast to right center, giving the Warriors at 12-10 lead.
Hickey cut the deficit to one when she motored home on a wild pitch.
Tucker bashed out her third hit of the game with a two-out double, but was stranded to end the contest.
SWU's Lucy Wolff earned the win with two innings of one-hit ball while Dutton took the loss after 3.2 innings of relief work.
LMC has a quick turnaround and welcomes Limestone for a doubleheader Sunday, April 12, starting at 1 p.m.
- LMC -
