GAFFNEY, S.C. – Jada Wilson collected a complete-game shutout in game two as Lees-McRae softball earned the split this afternoon at Limestone.
Lauren Ritchie went 4-6 at the plate on the day and
Julie Gast had a multi-hit game in the second game.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Limestone – 2; Lees-McRae – 1
LOCATION: Jimmy Martin Field – Gaffney, South Carolina
RECORDS: Limestone (2-3/0-0), Lees-McRae (0-1/0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Julie Gast reached first on a throwing error by the Saints third baseman and the Bobcats scored in the first off a Jordyn Scott sacrifice fly that plated Gast.
- Limestone tied the game at one after Santana Anderson tallied a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. The Saints scored the go-ahead run in the sixth after Kerrigan Thornton hit a single to left field to score Anderson.
- Ritchie notched her second hit of the game in the top of the seventh and Meredith Summey advanced into scoring position, but the Bobcats' last two batters were retired to end the first game at 2-1 in favor of Limestone.
- Megan Powell got the start in the circle for Lees-McRae as the sophomore pitcher went six full innings and struck out four Saints on the day. Powell gave up two runs (two earned) on five hits and surrendered one walk on the afternoon.
FOR THE SAINTS:
- Anderson recorded two hits and crossed the plate twice in the 2-1 victory for the Saints.
- Caroline Ruth earned the victory as she surrendered four hits and allowed one run (zero earned) in her third start of the season. Ruth tallied seven strikeouts in the win.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 1; Limestone – 0
LOCATION: Jimmy Martin Field – Gaffney, South Carolina
RECORDS: Limestone (2-4/0-0), Lees-McRae (1-1/0-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats jumped out to a 1-0 start in the second game of the twin bill after Gast singled to right field in her first plate appearance of the game. Powell followed with a single up the middle and advanced Gast into scoring position. Ritchie collected the third hit of the inning for Lees-McRae and Gast scored on a throwing error by the Saints third baseman.
- Wilson was in the circle for the second game and stranded five base runners in the second and third innings to protect the Bobcats' one-run lead.
- In the top of the fifth, Emma Jackson got on a base via a hit by pitch and advanced to second after Avery Walston earned the walk. Gast loaded the bases with a bunt single, but the next three Bobcats were retired to keep the contest at 1-0.
- The Saints threatened again their home half of the sixth, but Scott caught Limestone's Tayler Jenkins out on the base paths to keep the Bobcats ahead.
- Wilson worked around a leadoff single by Limestone as the Bobcats earned the 1-0 victory in Gaffney, South Carolina this afternoon. Wilson went the distance in the complete-game shutout as the Valle Crucis, North Carolina native had six strikeouts and did not allow a run in 29 plate appearances for the Saints.
- Ritchie went 2-3 from the plate and Gast joined her with two hits and being the go-ahead run in the first inning for Lees-McRae. Powell added a hit to her season totals in the win.
FOR THE SAINTS:
- Anderson, Maddie Baker, and Carley Womack each recorded two hits in the 1-0 loss for Limestone in game two.
- Makayla Cyzick suffered the loss as she went five innings and recorded seven strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae heads to Greeneville, Tennessee for the Tusculum round robin tournament starting on Friday with games against Hillsdale and Tusculum.
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