BELMONT, N.C. – Lees-McRae softball returned to action on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader at Belmont Abbey. The Crusaders earned the sweep with a 6-5 win in game one and a 15-6 victory in game two.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey – 6; Lees-McRae – 5
LOCATION: Crusader Field – Belmont, North Carolina
RECORDS: Belmont Abbey (18-14/10-9), Lees-McRae (15-20/10-9)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Taylor Beurrier collected her second home run of the season with a three-run home run over the left-field wall to give Lees-McRae the 3-0 advantage in the top of the first.
- The Bobcats continued with two more runs in the second off a RBI single from Hannah Foster and a score on a wild pitch.
- Belmont Abbey got back one run in the third on an RBI double from Sydney Pon and tied the contest at 5-5 with a sacrifice fly.
- Foster Sharpe recorded the go-ahead run for the Crusaders with a single through the left side.
- Beurrier recorded the second extra base hit of the contest with two outs in the seventh, but Belmont Abbey earned the 6-5 win in the opening game of the day.
- Logan Zephir took the loss in the circle for Lees-McRae after going three innings in her relief appearance. Zephir allowed three runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out four. Lonna Addison had five walks and five strikeouts in the start.
FOR THE CRUSADERS:
- McKenna Meadors registered the win for Belmont Abbey after throwing four and one-thirds innings in the contest. Meadors allowed two runs (two earned) on six hits.
- Hallie Meleh had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Crusaders and three Crusaders collected one RBI each.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey – 15; Lees-McRae – 6
LOCATION: Crusader Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Belmont Abbey (19-14/11-9), Lees-McRae (15-21/10-10)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats jumped out to an early five-run lead in the second game, but Belmont Abbey recorded runs in their four innings at bat for the 15-6 win.
- Brooks Eaddy brought home Beurrier and Hannah Foster on a two RBI double to the left-center gap. Allie Johsnton continued the two-out rally with a single and McKenzie Presson connected on a three-run home run for the 5-0 lead.
- Belmont Abbey stormed back in the bottom of the first with six runs and took the second game by a final of 15-6 in five innings.
- Presson recorded four RBIs in the game on one hit and a sacrifice fly. Eaddy had the other two RBIs and Foster drew three walks in the game.
- Leah DiBello suffered the loss for Lees-McRae in the circle after allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits and two walks in one and one-thirds innings pitched.
FOR THE CRUSADERS:
- Mackenzie Allison produced eight RBIs in the win on four hits. Jenna Goldey and Sami Kirk followed with two RBIs apiece.
- Goldey also earned the win in the circle for the Crusaders with 2.1 innings pitched of relief.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae welcomes "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" foe King to Banner Elk on Thursday, April 18 for a doubleheader.
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