PEMBROKE, N.C. –
Emma Jackson collected four hits, including two homeruns and a triple, to go along with five RBIs and three runs scored in the twin bill, but it was not enough as the Lees-McRae softball team fell short in a 10-7 loss in game one, before dropping a 6-3 loss in the second game against UNC Pembroke to close out the Conference Carolinas weekend.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: UNC Pembroke – 10; Lees-McRae – 7
LOCATION: UNCP Softball Field – Pembroke, North Carolina
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke (12-7/1-2), Lees-McRae (7-14/1-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Jackson went 3 for 3 from the plate with three RBIs, two runs scored, a triple, and a solo homerun to lead the Bobcats in the early game.
- Jordyn Scott went 2 for 2 with an RBI and two walks, while Aliyah Compton and Rylie Webster also collected multiple hits.
- Hannah Foster chipped in two RBIs and two runs scored, with Julie Gast and Lauren Ritchie also collected hits in the first game of the day.
- Lees-McRae opened the scoring in the top of the first as Foster singled up the middle to score Compton and Scott singled to right field to score Foster to give the Bobcats an early 2-0 lead.
- UNC Pembroke scored four runs on three hits in the bottom of the first to shift momentum.
- Jackson opened the top of the fourth inning with a leadoff solo homerun to center field to trim the deficit to 4-3.
- The Braves extended their lead to 6-3 with two runs in the bottom of the fifh inning and pushed it to 10-3 with a four-run bottom of the sixth inning.
- Lees-McRae rallied in the top of the seventh inning as Foster reached on a fielding error to score Webster to cut the lead to 10-4.
- Jackson tripled to right center field, two at-bats later, to score both Foster and Gast to trim the deficit to 10-6, while Ritchie singled to the pitcher to score Jackson to trim the lead to 10-7.
- UNC Pembroke was able to get the final out to clinch the conference win.
- Megan Powell and Jenna Bullard surrendered eight earned runs on 11 hits in the circle for the Bobcats.
FOR THE FOES:
- Three Braves finished with multiple hits in game one, while Kinsley Sheppard and Lauren Gammons gave up four earned runs on 12 hits in the circle.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: UNC Pembroke – 6; Lees-McRae – 3
LOCATION: UNCP Softball Field – Pembroke, North Carolina
RECORDS: UNC Pembroke (13-7/2-2), Lees-McRae (7-15/2-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Jackson paced the Bobcats in the later game by going 1 for 3 with a two-run homerun, while Gast and Powell connected on a pair of doubles, with Powell adding an RBI.
- Ritchie, Compton, and Foster also collected hits for the Bobcats in the second game
- UNC Pembroke opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with two runs on one hit to take the early lead.
- The Braves scored a run in the bottom of the second, one run in the bottom of the third, and two runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 6-0.
- Lees-McRae broke the deadlock in the top of the sixth as Jackson homered to left field to cut the deficit to 6-2.
- The Bobcats used a double to right center by Powell in the top of the seventh to score Kasey Spease and trim the deficit back to 6-3.
- UNC Pembroke was able to get the final out to clinch the conference win.
- Jasmine Fong and Powell gave up five earned runs on four hits in six innings of work. Powell did not give up a hit in her 2.1 innings of work.
FOR THE FOES:
- Four Braves collected hits in the game, while Madison Dyson gave up two earned runs on six hits in seven innings of work.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcat will travel to Central, South Carolina on Friday, March 25 for a Conference Carolinas doubleheader against Southern Wesleyan at 2 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
