CHARLOTTE, N.C. –
Julie Gast and
Cassidy Coleman went a combined 7 of 14 from the plate with two home runs and four RBIs, while
Raygan Rensing earned her first win on the mount as a Bobcat, as the Lees-McRae softball team split the season-opening doubleheader at Queens (N.C.) this afternoon.
The Bobcats dropped a 3-2 loss in game one, before using a three-hit performance by Gast to claim a 4-1 in in game two en route to head coach
Kendall Fuller's first win at Lees-McRae.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Queens (N.C.) – 3, Lees-McRae - 2
LOCATION: Tuskaseegee Dream Fields – Charlotte, North Carolina
RECORDS: Queens (N.C.) (1-0), Lees-McRae (0-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Coleman paced the Bobcats' offense in the season opener, by going 2 for 4 from this plate with a solo home run.
- Lauren Ritchie went 1 for 1 as a pinch hitter, while Ashlyn Mills and Sarah Beth Thomas both finished 1 for 3 from the dish.
- Gast and Morgan Crowe also finished 1 for 3, with Gast earning the only other RBI for the Bobcats.
- Queens opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly with two runners in scoring position.
- The Bobcats evened the score in the top of the third as Gast used a sacrifice fly to score Amber Corvin.
- After the Royals jumped ahead on an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, Lees-McRae used a home run by Coleman to even the game at 2-2.
- Queen reclaimed the lead in the fifth frame with a fielder's choice that scored the game-winning run.
- Charlsy Traylor was charged with the loss, giving up three runs on six hits, while finishing with a game-high eight strikeouts.
FOR THE FOES:
- Kayla Smith led the Royals by going 2 for 2 from the plate to go along with an RBI.
- Shannon McQuire picked up the victory on the mind, giving up only one earned run on five hits in five innings of work. Haley Nelson earned the save by giving up only two hits in two innings.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 4, Queens (N.C.) - 1
LOCATION: Tuskaseegee Dream Fields – Charlotte, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (1-1), Queens (N.C.) (1-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Gast paced the Bobcats in the second game of the afternoon, going 3 for 4 from the plate with a two-run home run.
- Crowe finished 2 of 3 from the dish with two runs scored, while Thomas added a run scored and an RBI.
- Addyson Ikard, Coleman, Ritchie and Hannah Foster each also chipped in one of the Bobcats' 10 hits.
- Lees-McRae opened the scoring in the third inning as Gast singled to right field that scored Crowe.
- Gast extended the lead to 3-0 on a two-run home run in the top of the fifth.
- Queens scored their only run of the contest with a fifth inning solo home run, while the Bobcats tacked on an insurance marker in the top of the sixth inning. Thomas singled to right field that scored Crowe.
- Rensing earned her first career win by giving up only one run on four hits in seven innings of work.
FOR THE FOES:
- Victoria Elder suffered the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings.
- Khristen McPherson gave up one run on three hits in relief.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae visits Anderson (S.C.) in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, Feb. 9 starting at 1 p.m.
