BRISTOL, Tenn. – Lees-McRae softball earned an 8-5 victory against King in game one of today's "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" doubleheader before falling to the Tornado 4-2 in the nightcap.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 8; King – 5
LOCATION: King Softball Field– Bristol, Tennessee
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (27-14/14-5), King (26-20/11-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Morgan Crowe hit a bunt single in the top of the third inning as Lauren Ritchie was plated to give the Bobcats the one-run advantage.
- Lees-McRae opened their lead to eight runs in the fifth after a lead-off single by Taylor Beurrier. Crowe loaded the bases after reaching on a fielder's choice and Megan Powell singled back up the middle to give the Bobcats the 3-0 lead.
- Emma Jackson pushed the Bobcat lead to five runs on a single to left field and Ritchie drove in three runs off a three-run home run.
- King rallied to score five runs in the final three frames, but Jada Wilson shut the door on the Tornado with the final three outs.
- Ritchie paced the Bobcats with three RBIs on her ninth home run of the season. Powell collected her 13th of the season after going six innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and five walks and striking out four in the contest.
- Jackson and Powell each tallied two RBIs in the 8-5 "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" victory.
FOR THE TORNADO:
- Tinsley Thompson had a game-high three hits and one RBI for King.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 2; King – 4
LOCATION: King Softball Field – Bristol, Tennessee
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (27-15/14-6), King (27-20/12-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- King bounced back to split the doubleheader against the Bobcats with the 4-2 win in the second game.
- The Tornado got on the board first with a two-out RBI single via Lauren Lawson and added two more runs in the home half of the fourth after a single up the middle by Haylee Dye.
- Ritchie sent her 10th home run of the season over the left field fence to cut the deficit to three runs and Jordyn Scott followed two batters later with a solo home run in the sixth inning.
- King held off the surging Bobcats scoreless in the seventh inning to earn the 4-2 win on Tuesday.
- Ritchie had a team-high two hits in the contest along with one RBI in today's effort.
- Wilson took the loss after allowing three runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks in four innings of work.
FOR THE TORNADO:
- Madison Walter earned the complete-game win for King after only allowing two runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out five Bobcats.
- Dye provided two RBIs on one hit and Thompson matched Ritchie with two hits in the game.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae welcomes Mount Olive to Banner Elk on Friday, April 21 for a Conference Carolinas doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
