BANNER ELK, N.C – Four Bobcats collected multiple hits in game one, led by
Aliyah Compton who went 3 for 3 from the plate, while
Megan Powell pitched a two-hit shutout for a win in the early game, to lead the Lees-McRae softball team to a split in the Conference Carolinas doubleheader against "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" rival King this afternoon.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 8; King (Tenn.) – 0 (6 inn.)
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (14-17/8-5), King (Tenn.) (23-12/7-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Compton also chipped in a run scored, while both Hannah Foster and Rylie Webster went 2 for 3 and combined for two RBIs and three runs scored.
- Jordyn Scott went 2 for 4 with a run scored, while Powell tallied a run and two RBIs and Julie Gast went 1 for 3 with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs.
- Jada Wilson, Lauren Ritchie, and Emma Jackson also collected hits in game one, with Wilson and Jackson connecting on doubles.
- After a scoreless first inning, Lees-McRae used a fielding error by King to open the game's scoring, while Jackson later scored on a pass ball to give the Bobcats an early 2-0 lead.
- Lees-McRae extended the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning as Webster singled to left center to score Jackson and Powell singled up the middle to score both Gast and Webster.
- Gast doubled to left center in the bottom of the fifth to score both Compton and Webster to push the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth.
- Lees-McRae closed out the opening game victory in the bottom of the sixth as Wilson doubled to left center to score Scott.
- Powell gave up only two hits and struck out eight batters to clinch her seventh win of the season in the circle.
FOR THE FOES:
- Carly Turner and Rikkelle Miller each collected hits for the Tornado, while Nikole Counts gave up five earned runs in 5.2 innings of work for King.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King (Tenn.) – 7; Lees-McRae – 0
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: King (Tenn.) (24-12/8-4), Lees-McRae (14-18/8-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Jasmine Fong and Jackson both collected hits for the Bobcats in game two.
- King opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with three runs on four hits to take an early 3-0 lead and grab the early momentum.
- After holding the Bobcats scoreless in the first two innings, the Tornado scored two more runs in the top of the third inning to extend the lead to 5-0.
- King scored another insurance marker in both the top of the fourth inning and the top of the sixth inning to extend the lead to 7-0.
- Lees-McRae threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning as Jackson singled to the shortstop, but a final out ended the inning and gave the Tornado the conference split.
- Wilson, Powell, and Fong gave up a combined five earned runs in seven innings of work.
FOR THE FOES:
- Four Tornado players finished with multiple hits in game two, while Carly Turner pitched a two-hit shutout.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will travel to Belmont, North Carolina on Friday, April 8 to open their Conference Carolinas weekend at 1 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
