GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Lees-McRae softball team used late-inning runs to send both games of the doubleheader with Tusculum to extra innings. The Pioneers collected a 7-6 win in game one and an 8-7 win in the second game of the day.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Tusculum – 7; Lees-McRae – 6 F/8
LOCATION: Red Edmonds Field – Greeneville, Tennessee
RECORDS: Tusculum (3-0), Lees-McRae (0-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- McKenzie Presson recorded a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give Lees-McRae the 2-1 advantage over Tusculum. The Pioneers answered in the bottom of the fourth with two runs of their own.
- The Pioneers added two more runs in the fifth for the 6-2 lead.
- Lees-McRae battled back in the sixth inning with four runs. Allie Johnston led the inning off with a double to the right-center gap. Abby Hatley singled down the left field line and Brittany Gingrich sent Johnston home on a RBI double. Brooks Eaddy brought in Hatley from third with a single to the pitcher. Destiny Brown continued the momentum with a single through the right side to score Gingrich.
- Riley Konowalchuk reached on a fielder's choice and the Bobcats tied the contest at six runs after Brooke Bennett crossed home plate.
- Hayley Lawing came in relief of Ellie Hale in the sixth inning and got the Bobcats out of the jam. The two sides went into the eighth inning knotted at six runs.
- Tusculum earned the win off a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth for the 7-6 win.
- Johnston led the Bobcats with two hits and two runs. Presson had two RBIs on her home run. Seven different Bobcats recorded a hit in the first game of the doubleheader.
- Lawing suffered the loss in relief after going two innings and allowed one run (zero earned) on two hits.
FOR THE PIONEERS:
- Natalie Spaitis recorded the win in the circle for Tusculum after throwing two and thirds of relief and only allowing one in eight batters faced.
- Danielle Jason led the Pioneers with a three-hit game and Sammy Jimenez had two hits and two runs in the fixture.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Tusculum – 8; Lees-McRae – 7 F/8
LOCATION: Red Edmonds Field – Greeneville, Tennessee
RECORDS: Tusculum (4-0), Lees-McRae (0-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lees-McRae used a similar performance in the second game of the twinbill. The two sides went into extras for the second game of the day.
- Gingrich got the Bobcats on the board first with a RBI double that scored Johnston. Brooks Eaddy knocked in Gingrich on a single to center field.
- The Bobcats added two more in the second inning and regained the two-run lead. Hatley singled up the middle and both Morgan Crowe and Karlie Kemper scored on the play.
- Tusculum added three runs in the bottom of the second and the teams were even at five runs apiece through the third inning.
- Tusculum's Riley Hope gave the Pioneers the one-run lead after a RBI single to the shortstop.
- Lees-McRae faced a two-run deficit heading into the top of the sixth. The Bobcats bounced back with two runs off a RBI single from Johnston. Hatley singled to the pitcher and Bennett scored on the play.
- Lees-McRae was unable to score in the top of the eighth and Tusculum used a RBI single from Brooke Smith for the 8-7 triumph.
- Hatley went 3-3 from the plate with two runs batted in for the Bobcats. Taylor Beurrier joined Hatley with three hits and Johnston secured her second multi-hit game of the day with two hits.
- Lawing was dealt the loss after going seven and one-third innings pitched for the Bobcats. Lawing allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 15 hits and two walks.
FOR THE PIONEERS:
- Danielle Jason, Hope, and Ellie Alvarez all had three hits to lead the Pioneers. Hope and Smith collected two RBIs in the second game.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae returns to the diamond on Saturday in Johnson City, Tennessee for round robin action with Carson-Newman and Tusculum. The Bobcats face Tusculum 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).
