HICKORY, N.C. – The Lees-McRae College softball team picked up arguably the biggest win in the history of the program on Saturday as it knocked off the number one team in the nation in Young Harris by a score of 9-1 in five innings. The Bobcats, who dropped an 11-7 decision to No. 20 Lenoir-Rhyne earlier in the day, moved to 5-5 on the season with the split.
Lenoir-Rhyne Recap – Lenoir-Rhyne came out swinging against the Bobcats in the team's first game of the day. The Bears scored in every inning but the third and totaled 11 runs on 15 hits. The Bobcats managed to put some runs on the scoreboard as well but it wasn't enough as the Bears topped Lees-McRae in the contest, 11-7.
The Bobcats racked up 11 hits against the Lenoir-Rhyne pitching staff in the contest. Hannah Foster went 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace these efforts. Addyson Ikard and McKinley Johnson each had two-hit efforts to help the cause.
Junior Cassidy Largen took the loss in the circle for Lees-McRae dropping her record to 2-3. Largen tossed 4.1 innings allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits. Katelyn Wyatt pitched the final 1.2 innings for Lees-McRae and allowed one run (not earned) on two hits during her limited time in the circle.
Young Harris Recap – The highlight of Saturday's action came in the second game obviously. The Bobcats struck first against the number one team in the country scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Lees-McRae's bats would remain quiet until they exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to force the end of the contest via the run rule giving the Bobcats the historic 9-1 victory.
Every Bobcat that played in the contest had a key part in the historic win either by recording a hit, driving in or scoring a run. Faith Cooke went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. The tandem of Cora Detter and Julie Gast each went 2-for-3 with Gast driving in a pair of runs. Ikard and Katie Robinson also knocked in two runs in the victory as well.
Charlsy Traylor held the top team in the country in check with easily her best start in a Bobcat uniform to date. Traylor pitched all five innings allowing just one (not earned) on four hits to go along with three strikeouts. Traylor's win boosts her record to 3-2 on the 2020 campaign.
Next Up – Lees-McRae will be back in action on Sunday against the same two teams it matched up against on Saturday. The Bobcats will take on Young Harris at 2 p.m. before facing off against Lenoir-Rhyne around 4 p.m.
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