CLINTON, S.C. - The Newberry softball team dropped a twin bill at Presbyterian College this afternoon, 6-3 and 6-2, at the PC Softball Complex. In game one, the Lady Indians rallied from behind in the fourth inning, but left three runners stranded. Newberry falls to 19-30-1 overall and 4-8 in the South Atlantic Conference. With the sweep, Presbyterian (23-28, 5-7 SAC) moves ahead of the Lady Indians in the conference standings. 

"This team is a puzzle," stated head coach Joe Elston. "We played so hard against teams like Lenoir-Rhyne and Tusculum, but we didn't show up to play today or on senior day. We had a chance to do something really great and put ourselves in a good position for the SAC tournament and we just gave it away. I hope the team that played so hard and with such heart against L-R shows up for the conference tournament or we will be in trouble."

Newberry struck early to get things going in game one. Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) got things going for Newberry when she scored Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) on a double hit to right center to take their only lead of the game.

PC answered back with back-to-back two run innings. In the second Amber Patterson (Lyman, S.C.) doubled to get PC on the board scoring fellow freshman Laura Tate (Spartanburg, S.C.) and junior Jessica Peterka (Sarasota, Fla.). In the third, Shannon Vining (Fayetteville, Ga.) got things going when she led off the inning with a triple hit down the left field line. Vining then scored when Rachel Bailey (Howard, Ohio) hit a rocket through the right side. Katie Fite (Conway, S.C.) added an RBI to her tally when she scored Bailey on a single hit to center field.

The next inning Newberry scored their only two other runs of the day when Betsy Shealy (Leesville, S.C.) doubled and was then driven in on a Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) single. Hammond then scored on a PC error to close the gap to two runs.

PC came out in the fifth and scored two runs to bump their lead to four runs. PC held Newberry scoreless the rest of the game to close the door on their fourth SAC victory of the year.

Slater struck out six batters and picked up her tenth win for the season, pitching all seven innings for the Lady Blue Hose. Newberry starter McKenzie Phillips (Wallace, N.C.) was charged with the loss and falls to 6-11 on the year.

Game two was held scoreless until the top of the third when Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) doubled to bring in Ashleigh Anderson (Barnwell, S.C.) and chalk up the first RBI of the game.

PC took the lead when they went on a six run tear to score the first five batters of the inning. The inning was highlighted by Bailey doubling and driving in Vining and Kellyn Henderson (Simpsonville, S.C.), then, a few batters later; Tate doubled and drove in Lindsay Wismer (Sarasota, Fla.) and Ashley Ford (Marietta, Ga.)

Newberry was able to squeeze out another run in the top of the third when Jenny Raines (Blythewood, S.C.) scored Hammond on a ground-out to second. Hammond had reached on a single, then advanced to second on a passed ball.

Freshman Erin Stewart (Marion, S.C.) picked up the win for PC by allowing only five hits and one run in her five innings of work. Kirby (12-13) took the loss for Newberry.

Newberry's last regular season game is scheduled for April 14 at 1 p.m. as the team is set to take on Wingate University in a SAC doubleheader. PC will travel to Greeneville, Tenn., on April 14 for a SAC doubleheader with Tusculum College.  First pitch is set for 2 p.m.