Softball splits doubleheader with Montreat, keeps .500 record
Posted by The Skyliner on April 15th, 2009Stephen Lane
Staff Writer
North Greenville’s softball team came into Wednesday’s game against Montreat College rolling on a four-game winning streak. The Crusaders were hoping to extend that winning streak along with sweeping their third series in a row, which was another season high. The pitchers for both teams kept both teams in check, and the game was scoreless until extra innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Montreat Cavaliers put the first runs up on the board and went ahead 2-0 off of a sacrifice bunt.
The Crusaders tried to match the Cavaliers but could only muster one run and suffered their first loss in five games. Crusader pitcher Kristyn Smith, sophomore biology, threw a season high 10 strikeouts.
It is very rare that a pitcher will have the chance to avenge a loss in a series, let alone the same day. Smith was given that chance and took full advantage. She struck out six batters and gave up only three hits to shut out Montreat 3-0. Smith finished with 16 strikeouts and only gave up five hits in the two games.
Allison Bailey, junior studio art, Hope Brewer, junior sport management, and Lindsey Eargle, senior sport management, combined to go 5-for-9 with all three RBIs that helped the Crusaders win the second game.
The team evened their record at 15-15 after winning the second game of the doubleheader. The Crusaders have seven games left to play and need five more wins to surpass their entire regular season and postseason total wins from a year ago.
NGU is on the road until April 22 when they come home to face Spartanburg Methodist College for their last series of the year.