BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae softball and King battled to a split in today's "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" doubleheader. The Bobcats took game one by a score of 7-6 and the Tornado claimed the second game by a final of 2-0.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 7; King – 6
LOCATION: LMC Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (16-21/11-10), King (23-22/10-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lees-McRae answered King in the bottom of the first after Taylor Beurrier launched a three-run home run over the center field fence for the 3-1 advantage.
- Hannah Foster tacked on a run in the second inning with a solo home run.
- The Bobcats added two more runs in the third with an RBI single from Lonna Addison that scored Brooks Eaddy. Foster brought home McKenzie Presson on a groundout for the 6-1 lead.
- In the fourth, Lees-McRae pushed its margin back to five runs off a throwing error from King's catcher that scored Lauren Ritchie.
- The Tornado cut the deficit to two runs off a three-run home run from Lilly Million and got within one run after a RBI single from Haylee Dye in the seventh. Addison worked around Dye's single and secured the 7-6 win for the Bobcats.
- Addison compiled 12 strikeouts in the complete-game performance while allowing six runs (six earned) on eight hits.
- Beurrier paced the Bobcats with three RBIs on her third home run of the season. Foster followed with two RBIs on one hit and two runs scored. Eaddy and Allie Johnston tallied two hits apiece in the game.
FOR THE TORNADO:
- Million had three RBIs on the home run and Dye collected two hits, two RBIs, and two runs in the contest. Tori Ryan picked up three hits in the outing with one RBI.
- Marleigh Duncan suffered the loss for the Tornado while surrendering four runs (four earned) on three hits and four walks in one and one-thirds innings pitched.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King – 2; Lees-McRae – 0
LOCATION: LMC Softball Field – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: King (24-22/11-11), Lees-McRae (16-22/11-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- King got the board in the second inning with a solo home run from Ryan and added their second run of the contest in the fifth off a fielding error.
- Presson led the seventh inning with a leadoff single up the middle. Addison put two Bobcats on the bases with a single up the middle. Foster singled to left field, but Kasey Spease was thrown out at home as Lees-McRae fell 2-0 in the second game on Thursday.
- Foster collected one hit and two walks in the contest. Addison, Eaddy, Presson, and Lauren Ritchie had one hit each.
- Logan Zephir took the loss in the circle for the Bobcats after going four and one-thirds innings. Zephir allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk.
FOR THE TORNADO:
- Nikole Counts took the complete-game shutout in game two for King with seven walks and three walks while scattering five hits.
- Ryan had one hit and one RBI with a solo home run in the second inning. Four other King hitters had one hit in the game.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae faces Converse on Saturday, April 20 for a doubleheader in Banner Elk starting at 1 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
