BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae softball earned the 8-1 victory over UNC Pembroke in the first game of today's doubleheader before falling 4-3 in game two to the Braves.
Lauren Ritchie had three RBIs in game one and
Megan Powell collected her 14th win of the season in the circle for the Bobcats.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 8; UNC Pembroke – 1
LOCATION: Softball Field– Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (28-15/15-6), UNC Pembroke (17-27/10-9)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lees-McRae answered UNCP in the bottom half of the first with four runs to take the 4-1 advantage. Buckner knocked in Morgan Crowe and Julie Gast after a two RBI single to left field.
- Hannah Foster followed after a sacrifice bunt by Emma Jackson as Buckner and Powell scored to make the score 4-1 in favor of Lees-McRae.
- The Bobcats tacked on another run in the second inning after Gast drove in Crowe from second off a double to the left-center gap.
- Ritchie opened the game up for Lees-McRae in the fifth inning with a three-run home run over the left field fence to give the Bobcats the 8-1 lead.
- Powell shut down the bats for the Braves in the seventh as Lees-McRae earned its 15 victory in Conference Carolinas play. Powell struck out six batters while only allowing one run (one earned) on four hits and three walks.
FOR THE BRAVES:
- Maddison Dyson suffered the loss for UNCP after giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits in 1.1 innings pitched.
- Lauren HIlbourn had the lone RBI in the first contest off a double in the first inning.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 3; UNC Pembroke – 4
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (28-16/15-7), UNC Pembroke (18-27/11-9)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Kadence Sheppard collected the go-ahead run with a solo home run in the seventh inning and UNCP held the Bobcats scoreless in the bottom half for the 4-3 victory.
- Buckner continued her strong freshman campaign for the Bobcats with a single to center field as Powell scored on the play.
- UNCP gained the 3-1 lead in the third after back-to-back home runs by Kaci Roberson and Cirstin Calloway.
- Lees-McRae rallied in the sixth after Gast touched home plate on a passed ball and Emma Jackson knotted the score at three after a double to center field to plate Kasey Spease.
- UNCP's Sheppard put the final run on the board with a solo home run over the left field fence.
- Powell took the loss on the circle for Lees-McRae after relieving Jada Wilson in the seventh inning. Wilson went six innings and struck out seven batters while allowing three runs (three earned) on six hits.
FOR THE BRAVES:
- Dyson took the win in the circle for UNC Pembroke after making a relief appearance for Summer Bullard. Dyson went 1.2 innings and only allowed two Bobcats on the base paths in her appearance.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will host Mount Olive in their home finale tomorrow afternoon starting at 1 p.m.
Jordyn Scott and
Abby West will join Gast and Wilson as the four seniors will be honored prior to the first pitch as part of Senior Day.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
