BANNER ELK, N.C. – Megan Powell hit her 11th home run of the season, which is the second most in a single season by a Bobcat in program history, in game two to lead three Bobcats with multiple hits, including
Julie Gast who collected six hits in eight combined plate appearances, while
Jada Wilson earned her eighth win this season in the circle, as the Lees-McRae softball team posted an 8-3 win in the later game to clinch a split against visiting Emmanuel in the conference doubleheader this afternoon. The Bobcats fell short in a 5-3 loss in game one.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Emmanuel – 5; Lees-McRae – 3
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Emmanuel (35-17/14-7), Lees-McRae (17-24/10-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Gast went 3 for 4 from the plate with a double and a run scored in the early game to pace the Bobcats, while Emma Jackson wend 1 for 3 with a two-run home run.
- Jordyn Scott went 2 for 3 with a run scored, while Aliyah Compton and Hannah Foster both collected hits in game one.
- After a scoreless first four innings, Emmanuel opened the scoring in the top of the fifth with a grand slam to left field to give the Lions an early 4-0 lead.
- Lees-McRae responded in the bottom of the sixth as Jackson connected on a two-run home run to right-center field to cut the deficit to 4-2.
- After the Lions scored another un in the top of the seventh, the Bobcats used an RBI-single by Foster in the bottom of the frame to score Gast and trim the lead to 5-3.
- Emmanuel was able to get the final out to secure the win in game one.
- Powell gave up five earned runs on five hits in seven innings of work in the circle for the Bobcats.
FOR THE FOES:
- Ellee Varner and Chloe Nadler both finished with two hits to pace the Lions.
- Maddie Edwards gave up three earned runs on eight hits in the circle to clinch the win.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 8; Emmanuel – 3
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (18-24/11-11), Emmanuel (35-18/14-8)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Gast paced the Bobcats for the second consecutive game by going 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
- Powell went 2 for 3 with a solo home run, two RBIs, and a run scored, while Foster went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
- Scott and Jackson combined for two hits and two RBIs, with Rylie Webster and Compton also collecting hits in game two.
- After a scoreless first inning, Powell opened the scoring with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to give the Bobcats the early lead.
- Lees-McRae extended its lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the third as Gast singled to score Abby West from third, Foster scored both Gast and Compton on a single to right field, Powell singled to score Foster, and Scott scored on a passed ball.
- Emmanuel responded with two runs in the top of the fourth and one run in the top of the fifth to trim the deficit to 6-3.
- The Bobcats closed out the game's scoring in the bottom of the fifth as Scott singled down the left-field line to score Gast from third and Jackson doubled to left-center field to score Foster in the next at-bat.
- Lees-McRae held the Lions in check in their final two at-bats to clinch the conference win.
- Wilson surrendered only three earned run on three hits to clinch her eighth win in the circle this season.
FOR THE FOES:
- Only three Lions collected hits in the later game, led by Kyna Cheney with a three-run home run.
- Dani Fairey and Kaitlyn Pickens gave up a combined seven earned runs on 11 hits for Emmanuel.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will close out the regular season tomorrow as the host Erskine in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
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