BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae softball bounced back in the second game of today's doubleheader to earn a split with Barton.
Hannah Foster and
Lauren Ritchie both collected three hits in the doubleheader and
Logan Zephir earned the complete-game victory in game two.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Barton – 3; Lees-McRae – 1
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Barton (14-13/5-2), Lees-McRae (8-15/3-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the first game of the day, the two sides were locked in a pitchers' duel with Barton's Miranda Holmes and Lees-McRae's Lonna Addison trading zeroes through the first three innings.
- Taylor Beurrier broke the tie with a RBI single to right field after Allie Johnston led off the inning with a double to right field.
- Barton got the bats going in the sixth inning as Gracelyn Massey sent a three-run home run over the center-field wall for the 3-1 lead.
- Johnston drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bobcats fell to Barton 3-1 in the opener.
- Addison went seven complete innings for Lees-McRae and allowed three runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out 10.
- Beurrier, Foster, and Johnston each had a base hit in the contest and Beurrier had the lone RBI.
FOR THE BULLDOGS:
- Holmes secured the win for Barton with eight strikeouts and only allowing one run (one earned) on three hits and two walks.
- Massey had the go-ahead three-run home run in the win and Elana Griffin recorded two hits.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 8; Barton – 2
LOCATION: Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (9-15/4-4), Barton (14-14/5-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats bounced back in the second game of today's doubleheader with an 8-2 win over Barton. Lees-McRae scored five runs in the fourth inning for the victory.
- Barton got on the board first with two runs, both unearned, after RBI doubles from Massey and Kandyce Condrey.
- Lees-McRae answered after Beurrier plated Johnston with a RBI single. Ritchie scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at two runs apiece.
- Avery Walston began the fourth inning with a five-pitch walk and Rebecca Grovdahl moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Zephir singled to left field and put Bobcats on the corners.
- Morgan Crowe singled home Walston and Foster continued the momentum with a RBI single to second base. Ritchie broke the game open with a three-run home run to make the score 7-2 in favor of Lees-McRae.
- The Bobcats tallied one more run in the fifth inning after a two-out RBI single from Foster. Kasey Spease scored on the play to make the Bobcat lead, 8-2.
- Zephir earned her first complete game of the season after scattering two runs (zero earned) on six hits and one strikeout in the second game.
- Ritchie and Foster registered multi-hit performances in the win and combined for five RBIs. Beurrier and Crowe each collected an RBI in the game and Beurrier drew two walks.
FOR THE BULLDOGS:
- Kerrigan Wonder suffered the loss for Barton after allowing seven runs (seven earned) on seven hits and three walks.
- Massey had two hits in the game and one RBI. Condrey added the other RBI for the Bulldogs.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae takes on Converse on Wednesday, March 27 in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
