MURFREESBORO, N.C. – Lees-McRae softball continued their winning ways on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Chowan on the road.
Megan Powell threw a no-hitter in the first game with nine strikeouts and the Bobcats recorded the 5-1 victory in game two with four runs being scored in the seventh frame.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 14; Chowan – 4 F/5
LOCATION: Hawks Field – Murfreesboro, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (24-13/11-4), Chowan (16-22/3-14)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Emma Jackson doubled to the left-center gap as Powell and Julie Gast scored the first two runs in the top of the first for Lees-McRae.
- The Bobcats then added four more runs in the following inning with Taylor Beurrier touching home plate via a RBI double off Hannah Foster's bat. Powell traded places with Foster two batters later and Grayson Buckner drove in the fifth run of the game with a single to left field.
- Lees-McRae continued their offensive power in the third with a lead-off single by Lauren Ritchie. Abby West drew a walk to put two Bobcats on the base paths and Foster brought in Ritchie with a double to right center.
- Powell hit a two-run single and Jackson followed with a RBI single up the middle to make the score 10-1 in favor of the Bobcats. Ritchie capped the inning with a grand slam at 14-1.
- Chowan used a three-run inning in the bottom of the fourth. but Powell struck out the side in the fifth for the Bobcat's third consecutive run-rule victory of the week.
- Powell earned her 12th victory in the circle and recorded the second no-hitter of the week for the Bobcats' pitching staff after allowing four runs (two earned) on zero hits and three walks.
- Jackson paced Lees-McRae with three hits and contributed four RBIs along with Ritchie. Powell helped her cause at the plate with two hits, three RBI, and three runs.
FOR THE HAWKS:
- Lindsey Richter and Kira Sodek tallied one RBI apiece in the opening game of today's doubleheader.
- Sodek, Tessa Nicholson, and Haleigh Reed each drew a walk for Chowan in the contest.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 5; Chowan – 1
LOCATION: Hawks Field – Murfreesboro, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (25-13/12-4), Chowan (16-23/3-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lees-McRae scored four runs in the final inning against Chowan to pick up the 5-1 win over the Hawks.
- Chowan struck first in their home half of the first with a RBI single from Reid.
- Jordyn Scott knotted the score at one run with a two-out single as Ritchie scored on the play.
- In the seventh, Scott led the inning off with a walk. Powell followed with a one-out walk with Gast going to second on the play. Buckner loaded the bases with a single up the middle and Jackson gave the Bobcats the lead via a hit by pitch.
- Ritchie plated Kasey Spease to give Lees-McRae the 3-1 lead and Beurrier broke the game open with two RBI single up the middle with Buckner and Jackson touching home in the inning also.
- Jada Wilson shut down Chowan in the bottom of the seventh with three groundouts. Wilson went the distance for the Bobcats while only surrendering one run (one earned) on four hits and striking out three for her 11th win of the season.
FOR THE HAWKS:
- Alex Bishop took the loss for Chowan after going 6.1 innings pitched and giving up four runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks.
- Richter had two hits in four plate appearances for the Hawks.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae softball makes the quick turnaround tomorrow afternoon with a Sunday doubleheader at Barton. The Bobcats' twin bill with the Bulldogs is scheduled for a 1 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).
