DUNCAN, S.C. – Lees-McRae softball picked up an opening round 5-0 victory over Erskine at midnight to open the 2023 Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament at the Tyger River Park. The Bobcats will advance to the winners bracket game with No. 3 Francis Marion at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
GAME BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 5; Erskine – 0
LOCATION: Tyger River Park – Duncan, South Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (31-16/17-7), Erskine (20-19/9-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats earned their first win in a Conference Carolinas Tournament since 2019 when Lees-McRae went 4-0 and captured their first Conference Carolinas Championship in program history.
- Megan Powell was dominant in the circle for the Bobcats and only allowed three Flying Fleet players to advance into scoring position in the contest. Powell threw a complete-game three-hit shutout and struck out six batters en route to her 17th win of the season.
- Lees-McRae gave Powell run support in the fourth after Jordyn Scott cleared the bases on a fielding error by Erskine's center fielder. The Bobcats held the three-run advantage through four innings of play.
- Julie Gast scored the fourth run in the fifth inning after a fielding error by Erskine as Emma Jackson reached first base on the play.
- Riley Webster scored the final run in the sixth for the Bobcats after a RBI groundout from Gast.
- Grayson Buckner joined Scott and Webster with hits on the night and Morgan Crowe, Powell and Gast also drew walks in the contest.
FOR THE FLYING FLEET:
- Erskine advanced to face the Bobcats after eliminating No. 7 Mount Olive in 10 innings in the play-in game earlier on Friday afternoon.
- The Flying Fleet will now play an elimination game against No. 4 Emmanuel at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae takes on No. 3 Francis Marion on Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m. at Tyger River Park. The Bobcats completed a two-game sweep against the Patriots on March 25 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).
