NEWBERRY, S.C. -- The Wolves softball team picked up another doubleheader sweep here Sunday, taking down the Francis Marion Patriots 6-3 and 5-0. The first game came down to the final inning, where freshman
Hailey Hill hit a walk-off grand slam to push Newberry to the win.
Game One: Hill walks-off Bulldogs
The Wolves didn't waste very much time in game one, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.
McKenzie Barneycastle hit a one-out double into left field then proceeded to steal third base. She scored when
Hannah Towery singled into center field, giving Newberry a 1-0 lead. After
Haley Simonds drew a walk, both runners moved up a base on a passed ball, setting up Hill to pick up an RBI on a groundout.
 The Patriots had the lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, where
Paige Meyer led off with a single into left field. After Baneycastle moved her over, Towery hit a double into right field, putting runners on second and third. The bases would soon be loaded after Simonds was hit by a pitch. That brought Hill up to the plate, and she ripped the game-winning home run, giving her a total of 5 RBI in the game.
Game Two: Sullivan twirls another gem as Wolves sweep Patriots
The second game turned into the
Alexandrea Sullivan show, as she threw another complete game shutout, scattering a pair of Francis Marion hits while recording eight strikeouts. She got run support early, as Newberry scored a pair of runs in the first when Towery jacked a two-run home run over the left field fence. They added another run in the second on an RBI groundout my Meyer before scoring a pair in the third.Â
The first run in the third came when Towery led off with a solo home run, clearing the right field fence to put the Wolves up 4-0. Hill would hit a double two batters later, setting up
Abigail Valentine to lace a double into the left-center field gap. putting the Wolves up 5-0. Those runs were more than enough for Sullivan, who picked up her fifth win of the season.
Inside the Boxscore
- Sullivan's performance lowered her season ERA to just 0.23. She has allowed just one earned run this season, and has thrown three complete-game shutouts. Opponents are batting .147 against her and have struck out 45 times, enough to give her the conference lead.
- Towery continues to lead the team in home runs, having gone deep six times this season. She also leads the team with 16 RBI and 37 total bases. Simonds is the team leader in batting average, batting .464 this season with a pair of home runs and eight runs batted in.
Up Next
The Wolves will continue their homestand Wednesday afternoon when they host Queens University in a SAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the Smith Road Complex.Â