BELMONT, N.C. --- Sophomore Sarah Stallings bashed out a pair of multi-hit games and Charlie Dutton was solid while the Lees-McRae softball team won game one, 4-1, before falling in game two, 12-4, in six innings in a doubleheader with Belmont Abbey Friday afternoon in Conference Carolinas play at Crusader Field in Belmont, N.C.
The games were originally scheduled to be played in Banner Elk, but due to inclement weather they were moved to Belmont. LMC was the designated home team in both contests.
Lees-McRae 4, Belmont Abbey 1
The Bobcats (6-35, 1-12 CC) earned their first conference win of the season while Dutton (Monroe, Ga.) and sophomore teammate Taylor Billings (Sophia, N.C.) stymied BAC by allowing only five hits.
The Crusaders (17-21, 11-6) saw Samantha Jacobs (8-10) go the distance with eight strikeouts.
BAC's Anna Mixa led off the top of the second with a walk and would eventually score on consecutive groundouts and an RBI single up the middle from Dani Marietta.
Coach Merritt Yackey's squad responded with authority by hanging a four-spot in the bottom of the frame.
Freshman Sarah Tucker (Monroe, N.C.) started the rally with a leadoff walk. Dutton helped her own cause and plated Tucker when she reached on a fielding error.
Freshman Teresa Dickson (Lexington, N.C.) chipped in with a single, putting two runners on.
Two batters later, Stallings (Greensboro, N.C.) delivered the big blow with a two-run double to right. The sophomore used a little help from BAC's right fielder, who lost her footing while backtracking for the ball.
Stallings would swiped her 24th base of the year before scoring on a wild pitch moments later. She currently sits tied for second in the conference in stolen bags.
Both pitching staffs would settle in and not allow any further damage.
Billings worked around a one-out single before retiring the side in order in the seventh, picking up her first save on the season.
Belmont Abbey 12, Lees-McRae 4 (6 Innings)
The Crusaders (18-21, 12-6) used a third inning grand slam from Mixa to break a 2-2 tie.
The Bobcats (6-36, 1-13) enjoyed an impressive 3-for-3 game from senior catcher Amanda Decker (Apex, N.C.)
LMC used a trio of hits, including an RBI double from Decker and run-scoring single from Kirsten Waters (Umatilla, Fla.) to jump out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
BAC took advantage of a wild pitch and throwing error to tie it at two in the top of the second.
Mixa cranked a grand slam to dead center after BAC loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a dropped third strike wild pitch.
The Bobcats cut the deficit to two when Decker connected on her second double of the day and Tucker drove her in, two batters later, with an RBI single.
Marietta and Nicole Stovall used two-run singles to fuel a five-run fifth for the Crusaders.
BAC plated another run in the top of the sixth to put the run-rule in affect and would hold LMC at bay to take the win.
The Bobcats welcome North Greenville for Senior Day Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m. as part of a CC doubleheader. Tori Wright (Blowing Rock, N.C.) and Decker will be honored prior to the contest.
- LMC -
