NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team barely missed out on setting a new NCAA record for runs in an inning in a doubleheader sweep of Claflin University. The Lady Indians scored 21 runs in the bottom of the first in a 24-3 win in Game One and shutout the Pantherettes, 13-0, in the second game. Both games only went five innings.

The Pantherettes will now have their name etched in the NCAA record books for two of the worst innings in history. Prior to the 2008 season, Bentley held the Division II record for runs in an inning with 20 in a win over Lesley on April 25, 1985.

The Lady Indians' 21-run first inning now ranks second behind Anderson University's 22-run first inning on Sunday against Claflin.

Newberry moves to 14-10 on the season with the twinbill sweep.

Game One: Newberry 24, Claflin 3 (5 innings)
Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) and Chelsea Chipoletti (Brooksville, Fla.) each drove in four runs as the Lady Indians sent 24 batters to the plate in the first inning of the record-setting inning. The scoring was capped by a Hammond three-run homerun, her sixth of the season.

The Lady Indians' runs all came with no outs on seven hits. Hammond's homer and a double by Sara Powell (Ocean View, Del.) were the only extra-base hits by Newberry.

Tiffany Pigage (Lexington, S.C.) also drove in three runs in the rally. Jesse Groves (Suwanee, Ga.) picked up the win in the circle allowing one run in three innings of relief. Aissa Gatewood (N. Charleston, S.C.) stole three bases in the game as Newberry took advantage of 10 walks, five hit batters and four wild pitches en route to the victory.

Game Two: Newberry 13, Claflin 0 (5 innings)
Powell and Pigage each drove in two runs as Groves and Katelin Edwards (Greer, S.C.) combined for a four-hit shutout in the nightcap.

Powell hit her first homerun of the season in the bottom of the second, an inning in which the Lady Indians scored four runs. Edwards struck out seven batters and walked none on the way to the win. Only four Pantherettes reached base and all of them were stranded in scoring position.

Gatewood once again stole three bases to run her season total to 17 steals.

The Lady Indians will look to carry the momentum of the offensive outburst into this Saturday's South Atlantic Conference opener against Tusculum on Saturday. First pitch at the Newberry Softball Complex is slated for 1 p.m.

Game One: Newberry 24, Claflin 3 (5)
Mar 13, 2008 at Newberry, S.C.
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Claflin............. 2   00 01 -  3  9  6
Newberry............ (21)21 0X - 24 12  2      (13-10)
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WP-Jesse Groves (1-1)  LP-Latanda Pharr  T-1:32  A-0
HR CLAFLIN - Ciara Glenn
HR NEW - Kat Hammond (6)
Complete Box Score

Game Two: Newberry 13, Claflin 0 (5)
Mar 13, 2008 at Newberry, S.C.
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Claflin............. 000 00 -  0  4  0
Newberry............ 054 4X - 13 10  0      (14-10)
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WP-Katelin Edwards (6-7)  LP-Geneva Garrett  T-1:21  A-231
Complete Box Score
HR NEW - Sara Powell (1)

NCAA Division II Record
Runs in an inning
R   Team vs. Opponent                    Date
22  Anderson (S.C.) vs. Claflin          3/9/08
21  Newberry vs. Claflin                 3/13/08
20  Bentley vs. Lesley                   4/25/82
18  Florida Southern vs. St. Michael's   2/27/00
17  Shippensburg vs. Virginia Union      3/20/04
17  Armstrong Atlantic vs. Edward Waters 2/19/00