NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team brought its record back above .500, as the Lady Indians swept Milligan College, 2-0 and 5-1, here Monday.

Game One: Newberry 2, Milligan 0
Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Monette (4-4, Conway, S.C.) pitched the Lady Indians' first shutout of the year in Game One, giving up four hits and two walks, while striking out eight batters in seven innings of work.

Monette pitched 3.1 innings of no-hit softball before Leah White smacked a single up the middle in the top of the fourth.

Newberry was already up 2-0 at that point thanks to the speedy Ginna Dean (Willow Springs, N.C.), who hit 2-of-3 with two runs and a steal. Dean was driven in by senior Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del) on a hard hit single to short in the first and a sacrifice fly in the third inning to put Newberry ahead.

The Lady Buffs had a chance to cut into the Lady Indians' lead in the top of the fourth, as they loaded the bases with two outs, but Monette struck out Melanie Strickler looking to shut down the rally with no damage done.

Neither team was able to push a run across from there, giving Newberry the win. Milligan's Jennifer Wise picked up the loss, giving up two earned runs on six hits, walking three and striking out none in her six innings.

Game Two: Newberry 5, Milligan 1
The Lady Indians completed their second sweep of the season with a big third inning.

Newberry took an early 1-0 lead when Kirby drove Dean in for the third time of the afternoon in the bottom of the first.

The Lady Buffs took advantage of a Newberry error and passed ball to load the bases in the top of the second, and starting pitcher Brooke Dowdy got a free pass home from third when Holly Napier was hit by a Kirby pitch to tie the game at 1-all.

Newberry capitalized on Milligan errors in the bottom of the third as Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) reached on an error to lead off the inning. After a bunt single from Dean, Lindler gave up the first out by leaving second base early, but Sara Powell (Ocean View, Del.) smacked a double down the left field line to put Dean on third after Powell was caught in a run down. Kirby picked up her fourth RBI of the day, as she singled to the right side to give Newberry the lead.

Haley Watson (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) hit a dribbler to the pitcher on a play that should have ended the inning, but a Dowdy throwing error scored Kirby and brought Watson all the way to third. Jessica Reid (Walhalla, S.C.) singled to short center to bring home Watson and complete the scoring for the inning, with Newberry up, 4-1.

Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) led of the fourth with a line drive double off the fence in centerfield and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Amy Jarrell (Dover, Del.). Hammond completed the scoring for the day as she came home on a hard hit ball to shortstop by Lindler.

Kirby (5-3) picked up the win for Newberry, giving up one unearned run on four hits and no walks, striking out eight Lady Buffs in her seven innings.

Newberry head coach Joe Elston said he saw positives in the sweep, but there are still things his team can improve upon as the season progresses.

"I really felt like the pitching is starting to come around and I thought the defense for the most part played very well," Elston said. "I think we need to work on our pitch selection and focus. We have the potential to be a really great team but we’re not there yet. We have to learn how to stayed focused for seven innings."

The Lady Indians return to action on Wednesday, as they travel to Gaffney to take on Limestone College at 2 p.m.

  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Milligan College.... 000 000 0 -  0  4  3      (6-3)
  Newberry College.... 101 000 X -  2  6  1      (8-8-1)
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Pitchers: Milligan College - Wise. Newberry College - Monette. 
  Win-Monette(4-4)  Loss-Wise  T-1:38  A-0

 
Game Two: Newberry College 5, Milligan College 1
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Milligan College.... 010 000 0 -  1  4  2      (6-4)
  Newberry College.... 103 100 X -  5  9  3      (9-8-1)
  ------------------------------------------------------------
  Pitchers: Milligan College - Dowdy; Hambrick(5). Newberry College - Kirby. 
  Win-Kirby(5-3)  Loss-Dowdy  T-1:39  A-50