Newberry, S.C. - After suffering back to back sweeps in conference play, the Newberry Softball Team welcomed the top team in the SIAC, the Claflin Panthers, to the Smith Road Complex for the last non-conference game for both sides in the 2022 season. The Wolves would start out hot in game one and continued that into game two as 23 total runs would come across the plate as the Wolves registered their 13th and 14th consecutive wins over the Panthers. The wins moved the Wolves to 32-16 on the season, the 32 wins being the most in a single season since the 2017 season.

Game One: Newberry 13, Claflin 5 (F/5)
After Lindsey Foster sent the Panthers down in order with two strikeouts, the Newberry offense which had been kept quiet against Lenoir-Rhyne broke out as they would plate six runs in the bottom of the first. The Wolves would load the bases with one out for Mackenzie Turner who deposited a bases clearing double into the left center field gap to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead. After a single by Mady Brown that advanced Turner to third, Brown would take second base on a strikeout to set up Turner to score on a wild pitch and Vanessa Wilson to deliver a two RBI double to make it 6-0 after one inning of play.

Claflin would scratch across a run in the top of the second capitalizing on two Newberry errors but the Scarlet and Gray would respond back with another six spot in the bottom of the second as they would lead off the inning with four straight singles, with the RBI being credited to Mackenzie Turner, to make the score 7-1. A sacrifice fly by Tedi Nunn would make it 8-1 and after a Lindsey Foster walk the Wolves would have the bases loaded once again but this time for Vanessa Wilson. The sophomore from Loganville, Ga. would deliver a grounder that would get through the shortstop's legs and would roll all the way to the wall, clearing the bases once again to make it 11-1, Wolves. Wilson would end up at second base on the error and would come home on a double fielding and throwing error by the second baseman to make it an 11 run lead after two innings of play at 12-1. 

Claflin would not go away quietly as they would plate the next four runs to cut the lead to eight, all four of those runs would come with two outs. However, Newberry would get a run back in the bottom of fourth as a throwing error on an Emily Hughes sacrifice bunt would bring home Amber Dalfonso to give the game the final scoreline of 13-5 after Lindsey Foster would quell a Claflin rally in the top of the fifth to record her fourth complete game of the season.

Game Two: Newberry 10, Claflin 0 (F/5)
Both teams would be held scoreless in their first at-bats but the Wolves would score two in their second at-bat as an RBI double from Tedi Nunn would score Lindsey Mitchell, who led off the inning with a double, and a sacrifice fly from Tori Rose would score Hailey Hill to make it 2-0 to the Scarlet and Gray after two innings of play. 

Brittany Crowson would only need four batters to retire the side in the top of the third and the Newberry offense would really put the game out of reach as they would record their third six-run inning of the twinbill with RBIs coming from Lindsey Mitchell, Tedi Nunn, Tori Rose, and Vanessa Wilson would deliver the big hit of the inning with a two run home run to make the score 8-0. Newberry would get two more runs on a two RBI double from Tedi Nunn to make it a ten run ballgame. 

Ally Sullivan would relieve Crowson after three and a third scoreless innings where she struck out four. Sullivan would only need six batters to record the last five outs to preserve the shutout for the Wolves, their seventh of the year.

Up Next:
The Wolves close the regular season with a visit from the Tusculum Pioneers for a conference doubleheader where the Wolves will look to secure a trip to the SAC Tournament in Harrogate, Tenn. with a sweep of the Pioneers. First pitch is scheduled for 1 PM and the Wolves will celebrate the three seniors in the program during the doubleheader as well.