Saturday, April 2, 2005

LADY BLUE HOSE SWEEP FIRST PLACE BEARS IN
 SAC SOFTBALL ACTION

CLINTON, S.C. — The Presbyterian College softball team picked up a pair of keys wins today in South Atlantic Conference (SAC) action by defeating Lenoir-Rhyne College 9-0 and 6-5 at the PC Softball Complex.

Today’s match-up pitted the two top teams in the SAC preseason coaches poll with the Lady Blue Hose picked first and the Bears picked second. Lenoir-Rhyne also entered the game undefeated in league play. The Lady Blue Hose improve to 25-17 overall and 3-3 in the league while the Bears fall to 28-10-1 overall and 4-2 in the SAC.

Game #1 — Presbyterian 9, Lenoir-Rhyne 0 (5 innings)

Presbyterian College’s junior pitcher Samantha Slater (Westerville, OH) threw a complete game five-hitter, surrendering one walk while striking out three batters en route to the 9-0 Lady Blue Hose victory. LRC’s junior pitcher Alexis Kreske (Miami, FL) took the loss after going three and one-third innings allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits while striking out two.

PC took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as senior first baseman Lauren Hixson (Spartanburg, SC) connected on a solo homerun, her third of the season. The lead increased 4-0 in the third inning as freshman centerfielder Kellyn Henderson (Simpsonville, SC) connected on an RBI-triple followed by an RBI-single from Slater. The final run of the inning came off the bat of sophomore third baseman Jessica Peterka (Sarasota, FL) who hit an RBI-single.

The Lady Blue Hose capped the game one victory with a five-run fourth inning. The inning was highlighted by an RBI-single from sophomore second baseman Rachel Bailey (Howard, OH) and a pair of Lenoir-Rhyne errors.

PC had six different people tally a hit with Henderson going one-for-two at the plate to go along with two runs scored. Bailey and sophomore catcher Olivia Gordon (Boothwyn, PA) also went one-for-two at the plate. LRC was led at the plate by senior outfielder Karen Reames (Laurens, SC) who went two-for-three.

Game #2 — Presbyterian 6, Lenoir-Rhyne 5

The Lady Blue Hose had to hold off a late comeback from the Bears to win 6-5 to complete the doubleheader sweep. PC led 6-2 entering the seventh inning, but Lenoir-Rhyne scored three runs to cut the lead to one (6-5) as their comeback fell short.

PC jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the third inning that was keyed by a two-RBI single from senior designated player Whitney Hannon  (Greer, SC).

Lenoir-Rhyne got the scoreboard in the fourth inning as freshman first baseman Leah Krohn (Taylorsville, NC) connected on a solo homerun to centerfield, her fifth of the season. The Bears trimmed the lead to 3-2 later in the inning as junior third baseman Kim Crowley (Pembroke Pines, FL) scored on a Lady Blue Hose error.

The lead increased to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning as Hannon connected on an RBI-double scoring pinch runner sophomore Shannon Vining (Fayetteville, GA). In the sixth, the Lady Blue Hose pushed the lead to 6-2 as Peterka connected on a two-RBI double which scored Bailey and freshman outfielder Lindsay Wismer (Sarasota, FL).

Lenoir-Rhyne fought back in the top of the seventh as junior second baseman Chrissy Lunsford (Tyrone, GA) hit an RBI-double followed by a PC error which scored freshman outfielder Taylor Queen (Conover, NC) to cut the lead to 6-4. The Bears pulled within one run as Krohn’s sacrifice fly scored Lunsford. The Lady Blue Hose ended the comeback on the very next batter as Slater, who was inserted in the seventh, struck out Crowley to end the game.

Reames led the Bears at the plate by going two-for-three with one run scored while Krohn went one-for-three at the plate with a homerun and two RBI. The Lady Blue Hose were led at the plate by Hannon who went two-for-three with a double and three RBI while Peterka went one-for-three with two RBI.

Sophomore starting pitcher Jessica Flanagan (Piedmont, SC) picked up the win for PC after going thee and one-third innings allowing two runs, one earned on three hits while striking out two. Kreske took the loss for the Bears after going six innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits while registering seven strikeouts.

The Lady Blue Hose return to action on Wednesday, April 6 as they host the Lady Eagles of Carson-Newman College at 2:00 pm while the Bears return to action tomorrow with a trip to Banner Elk, NC to take on Lees-McRae College at 2:00 pm.

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score