GREENEVILLE, TENN. – The Lees-McRae softball team picked up two wins on Friday with an 8-2 decision over Great Midwest Athletic Conference opponent Hillsdale and a 6-1 victory over hosts Tusculum.
Grayson Buckner and
Rebecca Grovdahl each had three hits in the victories to lead the Bobcats.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 8; Hillsdale – 2
LOCATION: Red Edmonds Field – Greeneville, Tennessee
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (2-1/0-0), Hillsdale (0-2/0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Julie Gast led off the first inning with the single to left field and scored on a sacrifice fly via Jordyn Scott as Lees-McRae led 1-0.
- Jada Wilson got the start in the circle for the Bobcats and held Hillsdale off the scoreboard in the first after stranding two runners. Lees-McRae added two more runs in the third and exploded for five runs in the seventh frame after Shelby Knaak hit a two-run home run and Jannon Glaspie also collected a home run blast that plated three more Bobcats.
- Wilson earned the complete-game victory and tallied four strikeouts while only allowing two runs (zero earned) on the day.
- Scott joined Glaspie with three runs batted in for the Bobcats along with two hits and one run.
FOR THE CHARGERS:
- Erin Kapteyn, All-GMAC Second Team in 2022, was given the loss after going four innings for Hillsdale while allowing three runs (one earned), six hits, and one walk in the loss.
- Taylor Lewis had a three-hit game for Hillsdale and scored one of the two runs in the game for the Chargers.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 6; Tusculum – 1
LOCATION: Red Edmonds Field – Greeneville, Tennessee
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (3-1/0-0), Tusculum (4-3/0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lees-McRae had a quick turnaround in game two as the Bobcats plated two to begin the game. Buckner helped her own cause with an RBI single in the first inning that scored Scott and Emma Jackson rounded the bases also.
- In the bottom of the first, Tusculum had a person in scoring position, but Buckner worked around a one-out single to keep the score at 2-0 in favor of the Bobcats.
- Alana Parsons continued the freshman dominance for Lees-McRae as the Elizabethton, Tennessee native sent a two-run home run shot over the right field and the Bobcats led 4-0 through four innings. The Pioneers cut the deficit to three runs in the fifth frame after Tusculum's Smeltzer doubled down the left field line to score Suits.
- The Bobcats answered with a run in the next frame after Knaak recorded her four RBI of the day on a single to left field that plated Hannah Foster. Lees-McRae tacked on more insurance run in the sixth inning after Buckner scored on a throwing error by the Pioneers.
- Buckner began her freshman campaign on a high note with a multi-hit performance and a victory in the circle. Buckner went four and one-thirds innings in the contest and struck out two batters while allowing one run (one earned) on three hits.
- Megan Powell earned the save as she shut the door on the Tusculum hitters through two and two-thirds inning pitched.
FOR THE PIONEERS:
- Keylon Reynolds suffered the loss in the circle for Tusculum after yielding five runs (three earned) on seven hits and collected three strikeouts in the game.
- Kallyn Newport had two hits to pace the Pioneers and Clair Smeltzer tallied the lone RBI for Tusculum.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae is back on the field tomorrow for two more games against Hillsdale and Tusculum in Greeneville. The first pitch with Hillsdale is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
