GREENEVILLE, TENN. – Despite outhitting the Tusculum Pioneers (24-25, 9-15 SAC) in both games of their Friday doubleheader, the Newberry College softball team (28-17, 14-10 South Atlantic Conference) had to settle for a split decision on the day. After falling 4-2 in game one, the Wolves took game two 3-2.
Sophomore pitcher
Lindsey Foster (Griffin, Ga.) received the loss in game one. She pitched 4 innings and recorded 4 strikeouts. Junior pitcher
Olivia Chestnut (Mount Dora, Fla.) tossed another complete game as she earned the win in game two, her seventh consecutive complete game of the season. She gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and struck out 7 batters.
Game one:
After the Wolves collected a hit in the first two innings, it was the Pioneers who struck first with a one-out three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning.
There was just one hit between that inning and the top of the sixth inning, when the Wolves scored their first run of the game. Sophomore designated player
Mackenzie Turner (Jefferson, Ga.) hit an infield single to the shortstop, scoring freshman catcher
Molly Mattas (Duncan, S.C.) with two outs. Sophomore outfielder
Leah Evans (Pageland, S.C.) did the same in the top of the seventh to score a runner from third, cutting the lead back to 2 runs, 4-2, as the Pioneers scratched a run across in the bottom of the sixth inning. But the Wolves comeback was stopped short when the final out was made on a ground out.
Game two:
The Wolves opened the second game with two runs in the first inning. The first came with runners on the corners as the Wolves beautifully executed a double steal, with freshman shortstop
Melanie Carr (Davie, Fla.) swiping home plate. The Wolves bunted the runner on second over and junior first baseman
Sierra Brogdon (Leesburg, Ga.) drove in the second run of the inning with a single up the middle.
With two outs in the top of the second inning, Carr added another run to the Wolves' lead with an RBI double to left center field.
The Pioneers cut the lead to 1 run with solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but a 1-2-3 seventh inning sealed the win for the Wolves.
With the regular season complete, the Wolves look forward to the South Atlantic Conference Softball Championship beginning Friday, April 28. The first weekend will be hosted by Wingate and Lenior-Rhyne and the Wolves await their destination following the completion of the regular season by all teams on Sunday.