The Blue Hose exploded for seven runs off nine hits in the second game, which included a three-run home run by Morgan Durham (Simpsonville, S.C.), to rebound from a 4-0 loss in the first game and take the 7-1 win in the second against Furman in doubleheader softball action this afternoon at Pepsi Stadium in Greenville, S.C.
PC improved to 21-12-1, tying its NCAA Division I record for most wins in a season, set in 2010. Furman dropped to 13-21.
Tera Powell (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) opened the second game with a base hit up the middle and reached second on her fifth steal of the day. A passed ball put her on third and when Codee Yeske's (Lexington, S.C.) fourth ball thrown to her passed by the Furman catcher, Powell scored for the game's first run.
Leslie Hensley (Cheraw, S.C.) reached on a fielder's choice the next at bat and with one out two runners sat on base. Durham stepped up to the plate and hit her fifth home run of the season, this one over the center field wall, to give PC a 4-0 lead.
PC added three runs in the fourth with Amanda Miller (Orlando, Fla.) and Yeske picking up RBI to help the Blue Hose to the 7-0 lead after four innings of play.
Furman spotted a run in the bottom of the seventh but Brittany Howell (Concrete, Wash.), who had seven strikeouts in the game to take the complete game win (8-5), retired the last three batters in a row to end the rally before it started.
Furman's Kayla Suskauer scattered five PC hits in the first game as the Blue Hose stranded five runners en route to the 4-0 loss. PC threatened in the fourth when Hensley doubled to left with one out. She advanced to third when Durham laced a singled through the left side. The next two batters popped up to the first baseman to end the threat, however.
The first two Paladins in the sixth inning went down in order before Stephanie Field took a walk. The next four batters produced hits, including a two-RBI single by Morgan Hughey, to drive in four runs and all of the sudden Furman led 4-0.
Miller led the off the seventh with a base hit to left but was tagged out at second off a fielder's choice that put Jennifer Marshall (Spring Hill, Fla.) on first with one out. Rachel Hopper (Simpsonville, S.C.) lined to the first baseman the next at bat, who stepped on first before Marshall could get back, for the game-ending double play.
Hensley pitched a complete game, giving up four earned runs off five hits, with four strikeouts, in her seventh loss of the season (13-7).
PC is back on the road with the Blue Hose travelling to Winthrop, April 15, and Appalachian State April 20. First pitch at Winthrop is at 5 p.m.
