Lady Crusader softball continues road trip, prepares to return home
Posted by The Skyliner on April 7th, 2010Cory Guinn
Sports Editor
The Lady Crusaders softball team continued its 10-game road trip on March 31 with a trip to Milligan, Tenn., to play in a double header against Milligan College.
Both games went into extra innings, but the Lady Buffaloes were victorious in both winning, game one 2-1 and game two 3-2.
In game one, the offense was led by Allison Bailey, senior studio art, who finished the game 2-4 with the Lady Crusaders’ only RBI in the game. Hope Brewer, senior sport management, and Kansas Wofford, freshman early childhood education, each went 1-3 from the plate and Shealy Broom, senior health and wellness, scored the team’s lone run.
Kristyn Smith, junior biology, started on the mound for North Greenville and pitched three innings. Smith allowed one run on two hits and recorded seven strikeouts in the game. Kimberly Robertson, freshman biology, pitched four innings of relief, giving up one run on three hits and striking out three batters.
Game two of the day was another nail-biter as the Lady Buffaloes scored two runs in the eighth inning to sweep the series.
The Lady Crusaders got on the scoreboard first in the third inning when Bailey drove in Jessica Turner, senior mathematics, with a single. Turner finished the game 1-2 and scored both runs in the game for North Greenville. Brewer had two hits in the game and also drove in a run. Courtney Campbell, freshman biology, finished the game 2-3, and Tia LaFreniere, senior outdoor leadership, went 2-2 from the plate.
Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, went 7 2/3 innings on the mound and gave up three runs on six hits while striking out seven.
The Lady Crusaders’ road trip continued on April 1 when they traveled to Greeneville, Tenn., to play in a double header against Tusculum College.
The Lady Crusaders and Lady Pioneers split the two games as North Greenville won the first game 5-3 but dropped game two 5-1.
In game one, Tusculum held a one-run lead until the fifth inning when North Greenville scored three runs on four hits to secure the come-from-behind victory.
Wofford started the rally with a two RBI triple that scored Broome and Roof. Wofford later scored on a single by Brewer to open the lead to three runs for North Greenville. Wofford finished the game 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Robertson, Bailey and Brewer each knocked in one RBI.
The Lady Crusaders used three different pitchers to secure the victory as Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, Smith and Robertson each played a crucial role on the mound. Hopper got the start and went 1 1/3 innings giving up no runs on one hit with one strikeout. Smith pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits while striking out four. Robertson picked up the win as she threw 3 1/3 innings allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts.
In the second game of the double header, the Lady Crusaders were unable to get any offensive production as the team amassed 10 hits but scored only one run.
Broome led the North Greenville offense, as she was 2-3 from the plate with the team’s only RBI. Wofford and Campbell each recorded two hits in the game while LaFreniere scored a run.
Robertson started game two for the Lady Crusaders but pitched just 1 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on one hit. Roof continued to struggle on the mound as she pitched only 1/3 of an inning and gave up three runs on two hits. Smith pitched 4 1/3 innings in the game, allowing no runs on only one hit while striking out five batters.
North Greenville (18-15) will conclude its road trip with a double header against Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C., tomorrow, April 8, at 2 p.m.
The Lady Crusaders return home on Saturday, April 10, when they take on Truett McConnel College in a double header beginning at 1 p.m.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 10