NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Lees-McRae softball team earned two victories on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 shutout win over hosts Newberry and a 5-1 decision against defending Mountain East Conference Tournament Champions Fairmont State.
Jada Wilson continued to dominate in the circle for the Bobcats with her second shutout of the season in the win against Newberry.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 3; Newberry – 0
LOCATION: Smith Road Complex – Newberry, South Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (5-2/0-0), Newberry (6-5/0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats and Wolves remained scoreless as Wilson battled Newberry's Olivia Chestnut in a pitching duel.
- In the fourth, the bats came alive for Lees-McRae with Grayson Buckner starting the rally with a single down the right field line. Jordyn Scott advanced both Buckner and Julie Gast into scoring position and Lauren Ritchie plated Gast on a sacrifice fly. Buckner came around to score following a wild pitch as the Bobcats led 2-0 through four.
- Wilson used a huge inning-ending double play in the bottom of fourth to keep her shutout alive after Newberry's Hailey Hill hit into a 5-3 double play.
- Emma Jackson added an insurance run off a home run to left field in the seventh for the Bobcats.
- Wilson allowed only four hits in seven innings for Lees-McRae and had two strikeouts in the 3-0 victory.
FOR THE WOLVES:
- Newberry's Chestnut went seven full innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits. Chestnut tallied 14 strikeouts in the loss for the Wolves.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 5; Fairmont State – 1
LOCATION: Smith Road Complex – Newberry, South Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (6-3/0-0), Fairmont State (2-4/0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Fairmont State struck first in the bottom of the first with a home run via Emily Riggs.
- The Bobcats rallied in the top of third after Hannah Foster sent a two-run home run blast to center field and Abby West scored on the play.
- Megan Powell joined Foster and Jackson with home runs on the day as Powell cushioned the Bobcat advantage to two runs in the top of the fourth. Powell added her second RBI of the contest at 4-1 and Avery Walston provided the fifth run of the game via a throwing error by Fairmont State.
- Powell went four strong innings for the Bobcats as she had six strikeouts while allowing one run (one earned) on two hits and three walks. Buckner picked up the three-inning save for Lees-McRae and faced one batter over the minimum in her appearance.
FOR THE FIGHTING FALCONS:
- Emily Riggs had one hit on the day and Myaih Cloud recorded the other hit for the Fighting Falcons.
- Emma Gates was issued the loss in the circle after going 4.2 innings pitched and gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae is back at Newberry tomorrow for two more games against Fairmont State and Newberry. The first pitch against Fairmont State is scheduled for 11 a.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
