DUE WEST, S.C. – The Lees-McRae softball team took over first place in Conference Carolinas with a sweep of Erskine on the road.
Megan Powell recorded her ninth victory of the season in the circle with 12 strikeouts in the game one victory.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 8; Erskine – 3
LOCATION: EC Softball Complex – Due West, South Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (18-11/7-2), Erskine (15-7/5-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats launched three home runs in the opening game of today's doubleheader to secure the 8-3 victory. Powell, Grayson Buckner, and Jordyn Scott all had the home run shots for Lees-McRae.
- Powell went to 9-3 on the season in the circle with her eighth complete game of the season and struck out 12 batters en route to the victory.
- Powell got the Bobcats on the board first with a two-run home run to center field and Buckner followed with a home run to left field.
- Lees-McRae added two more runs in the fourth with an RBI groundout by Taylor Beurrier and Julie Gast plated Lauren Ritchie for the 5-0 lead.
- Emma Jackson knocked in Buckner in the fifth inning off a two-out triple to give the Bobcats the 6-0 advantage and Jackson tallied her second RBI in the seventh with an infield single.
- Erskine scored two in the sixth and once in the seventh, but the Flying Fleet's rally fell short after Powell collected her 12th strikeout to end the contest.
FOR THE FLYING FLEET:
- Kaley Ingle suffered her third loss of the season in the circle after going five complete innings and surrendering seven runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks.
- Gabby Burroughs and Maddie Ingram registered two hits each in the contest.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 9; Erskine – 7
LOCATION: EC Softball Complex – Due West, South Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (19-11/8-2), Erskine (15-8/5-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats collected the sweep with the 9-7 victory against Erskine on Friday afternoon.
- Lauren Ritchie homered to left field in the second inning to give Lees-McRae the 3-0 lead. Erskine cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the second and tied the game at 3-all with a two-run home run in the third.
- Taylor Beurrier hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth as Hannah Foster scored on the play as the Bobcats regained the one-run advantage.
- The Bobcats tallied four runs in the sixth for the 8-4 lead as Ritchie hit a RBI single through the left side. Scott followed with a two-run home run as Avery Walston scored in the inning also.
- Foster recorded an RBI single in the seventh and Powell closed the door on the Erskine rally in the bottom of the seventh with a pop fly to the shortstop.
FOR THE FLYING FLEET:
- Kyndall Chandler had a team-high three RBIs in the night and Summer Nelsen followed with two RBIs via a home run.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae returns to the diamond tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader at Emmanuel. The first pitch is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start.
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