WISE, Va. – The Lees-McRae College softball team got back to its winning ways on Sunday as it won a pair of games at UVa-Wise by scores of 7-4 and 3-1. The pair of victories improve Lees-McRae's record to 4-2 on the season.
Game One Recap – There was plenty of offense by both teams to begin Sunday's doubleheader. Both teams were able to score four times through the first three innings. The fourth through the sixth innings were quiet before the Bobcats scored three runs in the top of the seventh to finish off the 7-4 win over the Cavaliers.
Caitlyn Ray led the Bobcat offense in game one going 3-for-5 with two RBI. The two runs batted in for Ray came in the top of the seventh when Lees-McRae pulled in front. McKinley Johnson went 2-for-4 with a run scored for her first multi-hit game in a Bobcat uniform. The other three hits for Lees-McRae in game one came from the second, third and fourth spots in the batting order as Julie Gast, Faith Cooke and Addyson Ikard all recorded base hits.
Charlsy Traylor recorded the win in the circle for the Bobcats in game one improving her record to 2-1 on the season. Traylor tossed all seven innings allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks.
Game Two Recap – Game two was much more a pitchers' duel compared to the day's first contest. The Cavaliers were able to score a run in the bottom of the first off of Lees-McRae starter Cassidy Largen. Largen would not allow another run to score for the rest of the game allowing the Bobcat offense to mount a comeback. Hannah Foster put Lees-McRae in front with a two-run home run in the sixth and then Cooke drove in Sarah Beth Thomas with a single in the seventh to seal the 3-1 victory.
Foster's two-run blast in the sixth was her first collegiate home run. Cora Detter and Cooke finished game two with two hits each, while Ray added another hit after recording three base knocks in the first game of the day.
Largen got her second win of the season improving her record to 2-1. Largen pitched all seven innings for Lees-McRae surrendering just one run on five hits to go along with eight strikeouts that matched a career-high. Largen's eight strikeouts also push the junior pitcher past the 100-strikeout mark for her career. Largen is just the tenth Bobcat pitcher to ever reach that mark.
Next Up – Lees-McRae will be back in action on Thursday when it visits Anderson for another non-conference doubleheader. These games are a result of a postponement earlier this month. First pitch between the Bobcats and Trojans is set for 1 p.m.
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