Softball endures rough week
Posted by The Skyliner on March 3rd, 2010Cory Guinn
Sports Editor
On Feb. 23, the Lady Crusaders softball team took its perfect record on the road to play in a double header against the Brevard Tornados in Brevard, N.C. North Greenville would suffer its first loss of the season in game one, 4-2, but bounce back to split the series by winning game two, 5-3.
In game one, pitcher Kristyn Smith, junior biology, took the mound for the Lady Crusaders. Smith pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out four batters. Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, recorded the final out for North Greenville by striking out the side.
Allison Bailey, senior studio art, provided the offense for North Greenville in game one going 1-2 with two RBI. Kansas Wofford, freshman early childhood education, went 2-3 from the plate and scored a run in the first inning.
The Lady Crusaders turned the tables in game two as the offense heated up scoring five runs on 10 hits. On the mound for the Lady Crusaders was Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, who pitched a complete game, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out three Tornado batters.
Wofford led off game two with a single and later scored on a base hit by Karli Taylor, sophomore sports management. Wofford finished the game 3-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Taylor, Jessica Turner, senior mathematics, Shealy Broome, senior health and wellness, and Tia LaFreniere, senior outdoor leadership, each recorded an RBI in the game.
On Feb. 26 the Lady Crusaders hosted a double header against Milligan College. North Greenville was unable to get much offense as they dropped the first game 4-2 in extra innings but won the second game, 7-4.
Smith started on the mound in game one and pitched five innings, giving up two runs while striking out six. Kimberly Robertson, freshman biology, pitched four innings of relief and gave up the game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning.
Offensively, the Lady Crusaders struggled in game one and only scoring two runs. Roof finished the game 1-4 with an RBI and LaFreniere also drove in a run.
In game two, North Greenville’s offense heated up, scoring four runs in the first inning and seven runs overall. Roof picked up her fifth win of the season by pitching a complete game and striking out six.
Hope Brewer, senior sports management, led the Lady Crusaders going 2-4 with two RBI in the game. Taylor and Roof each knocked in a pair of runs and catcher Rachel Holeman, freshman biology, got her first career RBI.
After playing the home series against Milligan, the Lady Crusaders traveled to Wingate, S.C., on Feb. 27 to take on the 15-1 Wingate Lady Bulldogs. North Greenville was stagnant on offense once again, losing both games in a double header 2-1 and 3-0.
Hopper would be on the mound for North Greenville in game one and pitch 7 2/3 innings, giving up only two runs while striking out 10 batters.
On offense for the Lady Crusaders, LaFreniere had the team’s lone RBI in the second inning.
Smith would pitch game two for North Greenville but come away with the loss as she gave up three runs in six innings with only two strikeouts.
The Lady Crusaders (8-4) will receive a much needed-break as the team’s next game will not come until March 3 in a double header against Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C. The first game will begin at 2 p.m.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 6