WISE, Va. – Lees-McRae softball took two on the road against UVA Wise with 8-1 victory in game one and a 10-7 win in game two over the Cavaliers.
Megan Powell launched three home runs in the doubleheader and recorded a win in game one along with her third save of the season in the night cap.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 8; UVA Wise – 1
LOCATION: Cavalier Field – Wise, Virginia
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (20-13/8-4), UVA Wise (8-25/3-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Abby West singled to right field to plate Grayson Buckner in the top of the second inning and Emma Jackson scored on a throwing error to give the Bobcats the 2-0 lead.
- Powell added the third run for Lees-McRae in the top of the sixth with a solo home run and Jackson followed three batters later with a double to left field as Hannah Foster scored.
- Julie Gast sent a three-run home run in the top of seventh to elevate the Bobcats' lead to seven runs and Powell followed with her second home run of the contest at 8-0.
- UVA Wise recorded their lone run in the bottom of the seventh with a lead-off home run, but Powell was excellent in the circle going the distance and only allowing one run (one earned) on three hits and striking out 11.
- Buckner and Jackson each tallied three hits in the win and Powell had two hits and two RBI. West joined her fellow Bobcats with two hits and Gast collected three RBI on her home run.
FOR THE CAVALIERS:
- McKenna Falwell fell to 4-11 on the season after surrendering eight runs (six earned) on 13 hits and one walk.
- Bayleigh Allison had the lone RBI for the Cavaliers in the contest and Sarah Barrett and Mallory McKnight joined her with one hit apiece.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 10; UVA Wise – 7
LOCATION: Cavalier Field – Wise, Virginia
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (21-13/8-4), UVA Wise (8-26/3-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Powell continued her excellent day at the plate in game two with a two-run home run to open the game in the first inning. Jordyn Scott plated two more with a two RBI double as Jackson and Lauren Ritchie rounded the bases for the Bobcats.
- The Bobcats answered UVA Wise with one run in the second after Foster drew a five-pitch walk and Lees-McRae regained the four-run lead.
- Scott joined Powell in the home run column in the third inning with a one-out home run to center field as the Bobcats led 6-1. UVA rallied for five runs in the bottom of the third after a grand slam via UVA Wise's Abagail Mill with two outs.
- Lees-McRae responded once again with two runs after Buckner hit a solo home run over the center field wall and Jackson followed two batters later with a home run over the left center fence.
- The Bobcats tacked on one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings for the 10-7 victory in game two.
- Gast paced Lees-McRae with three hits in the second game and Ritchie, Scott, and Taylor Beurrier all added two hits apiece.
- Jada Wilson collected her ninth win of the year after going 3.1 innings pitched for the Bobcats while allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits and striking out three. Powell closed the door on UVA Wise after coming in relief of Wilson and striking out six batters en route to her third save of the 2023 campaign.
FOR THE CAVALIERS:
- Kara Long and Mills had two hits apiece and Mills led the Cavaliers with four RBIs in the contest.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae softball returns to the diamond and Conference Carolinas action on Wednesday, April 12 as the Bobcats host Southern Wesleyan for a 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).
