FLORENCE, S.C. - The Newberry softball team pounced on UNC Pembroke early and never let up en route to a 9-3 win over the Braves this afternoon on the final day of the Francis Marion University Patriot Invitational.  The Lady Indians took an early lead over Georgia College & State University in their final game, but were foiled the next four innings in the 11-1 loss.  Newberry moves to 10-18-1 overall.

The Lady Indians put two runs on the board in the first inning against the Braves, thanks to an RBI double from Sarah Lynch (Pompano Beach, Fla.) and a UNC Pembroke wild pitch.  Newberry continued their hitting ways in the second as they scored four runs on three hits, all with two outs.  Ashleigh Anderson (Barnwell, S.C.) and Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) each hit singles to start the inning, setting up Courtney Lindler's (Irmo, S.C.) RBI single to center field.  Two more wild pitches allowed Jackson and Lindler to advance and eventually score, while McKenzie Phillips (Wallace, N.C.) forced an error that scored Lynch, who reached on a walk. 

Pembroke got on the board in the fourth due to a Meredith Veglia home run, but Newberry responded with a run of their own in the top of the fifth off an Anderson RBI single.  The Braves added two more runs in the fifth, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Indians closed out the game with a two-run home run from Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) in the top of the seventh. 

Phillips (5-7) picked up the win, while Stephanie Monette (Conway, S.C.) and Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) each provided relief support.  Candace Evans was charged with the loss.  Newberry recorded 10 hits on the game, including two each from Lindler, Lynch, Hammond, and Anderson. 

Newberry took an early 1-0 lead after an inning of play against Georgia College & State, but the Lady Cougars responded with three runs in the second, which proved to be enough.  Lindler started the Newberry first with a double to left field and later scored off a Kirby single to right field.  Hammond followed with a hit, but the Lady Indians were unable to score with bases loaded.  Georgia College & State's second inning rally featured a two-run single from Shelbie Lindsey and a run off a Newberry error. 

The Lady Cougars brought in pitcher Libby Kidd in the second inning, who gave up just one hit and zero runs for the rest of the game.  Georgia College & State struck again in the fourth with a run and exploded for seven runs in the fifth, ending the game early.  The Lady Cougars recorded six hits in the monster inning and forced five Newberry errors.  The Lady Indians commited eight errors on the game. 

Kirby (4-7) got the loss for Newberry, while Kidd picked up the win for the Lady Cougars.  Georgia College & State slammed 12 hits on the game. 

Up next for Newberry is a doubleheader at Livingstone College on March 15.  Game one is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.