BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Lees-McRae softball team powered past Belmont Abbey in game one of today's doubleheader, but the Crusaders salvaged the series with an extra-inning victory in game two.
Megan Powell secured her seventh win of the season in the circle after throwing a complete game with 11 strikeouts.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 9; Belmont Abbey – 2
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (14-9/3-0), Belmont Abbey (8-15/3-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Morgan Crowe started the Bobcats with a lead-off triple and Powell drove Crowe and Julie Gast on a double to right center. Hannah Foster produced a RBI groundout to plate Powell and Emma Jackson followed with a RBI groundout to give Lees-McRae the four-run lead.
- Gast homered on a 2-0 count to add two more runs to the Bobcats' advantage and Abby West laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt for the 7-0 lead in the third inning.
- Belmont Abbey cut the deficit to four runs after a two run shot by Hallie Mele to make the score 7-3 in favor of Lees-McRae.
- Powell provided one more insurance run in the home half of the fourth inning with her second double of the day and Foster scored Avery Walston off a single up the middle.
- Powell earned her seventh win of the season in the circle for Lees-McRae after striking out the side in the seventh inning. Powell went seven strong innings while allowing three runs (three earned) on five hits and striking out 11 Crusaders.
- Powell had a three-hit performance and added three RBIs in the contest. Crowe followed with two hits and Gast joined her with two hits and two RBIs.
FOR THE CRUSADERS
- Alannah Browne was handed the loss for Belmont Abbey as she went three innings while surrendering seven runs (seven earned) on eight hits.
- Mackenzie Allison paced the Crusaders with two hits and Hallie Mele added two RBIs to her season totals.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 5; Belmont Abbey – 9
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (14-10/3-1), Belmont Abbey (9-15/4-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Belmont Abbey scored five runs in the top of the ninth to outlast the Bobcats 9-5 in an extra inning affair.
- Grayson Buckner got the Bobcats on the board first with an RBI single to center field as Crowe scored from second. Buckner tacked on the second run of the game with a solo home run to left field as the Bobcats led 2-0.
- The Crusaders gained the lead with a grand slam via Crusader Mackenzie Sprinkle as Belmont Abbey had the 4-2 advantage through their top half of the fifth inning.
- Jordyn Scott homered in the home half of the fifth inning and Gast sent the game into extras after a two-out homer in the seventh inning.
- The two sides had the go-ahead run on third base in the eighth inning, but the defensive effort held strong with the game being pushed to an extra inning of play.
- The Crusaders collected the victory after scoring five in the ninth inning and the Bobcats could not rally in their home half of the ninth.
- Buckner had three hits for the Bobcats and recorded two RBIs in the loss. Jannon Glaspie joined Gast and Scott with one RBI apiece in the loss.
- Powell was given the loss after relieving Jada Wilson in the fifth inning. Powell went 4.1 innings while striking out five and allowing five runs (four earned) in the relief appearance.
FOR THE CRUSADERS:
- Mele registered four hits in the comeback effort for Belmont Abbey and Sprinkle provided four RBIs in the night cap.
- Adison Yoder went nine full innings for the Crusaders while only allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae makes the quick turnaround tomorrow afternoon as the Bobcats welcome Francis Marion for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Banner Elk
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
