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The Presbyterian College softball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the first game with three runs in the fourth inning to come away with the 5-2 win over North Carolina Central in the first game of a doubleheader this afternoon at the PC Softball Complex. The Blue Hose scored four runs in the first three innings and held the Eagles to just six base runners en route to a 4-0 blanking over NCCU in the second game.
PC improved to 7-12 overall, while North Carolina dropped to 1-22.
Rachel Hopper led the Blue Hose, recording four hits, including a double and two RBI in game one. Morgan Durham posted two RBI as well, hers' coming off a two-run home run in game two. It was her second home run of the season and extended the PC lead to four after three innings. Erin Talyor had a two-run home run in the first game, the first of her career, to record two RBI on the afternoon as well
Cat Tarvin was solid on the mound, going 3.1 innings, striking out four and surrendering just two earned runs in game one. Kensley Loudermilk picked up the win after she came in relief and gave up just two hits and struck out one. She moves to 3-2 on the year.
Leslie Hensley finished the game for the Blue Hose, threw 2.2 innings, struck out four and picked up her first save of the season.
Hensley started the second game and went the distance for the win to go to 3-5 on the year. She scattered five hits and struck out two.
Cember Carmichael led North Carolina Central after collecting four hits in seven at-bats, including a double in each game. Recording RBI for the Eagles were Amanda Bullock and Martha Batie, each with one on the day.
Bianka Molina took the loss in game one, while Aurora Baker picked up the loss in the second game.
The Eagles took a 2-1 lead after three and a half innings of the first game but surrendered three hits in the bottom of the fourth as Tarvin and Hopper opened with back-to back hits. Hayley Bonner, who pinch ran for Hopper, came home off Tarvin's double, while Tarvin crossed home plate off Taylor's home run to make it a 4-2 game in favor of PC.
Tarvin plated again in the fifth after advancing to first on a walk, stealing the next two bases and coming home off a RBI single by Hopper to make it 5-2.
PC scored a run in each of the first two innings to lead 2-0 early in the second game. After Jill McLean led off the game with a single, she made it to third off a wild pitch and a stolen base and scored when Tera Powell laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt for the RBI.
Hopper scored in the second after reaching on an error by the right fielder and advancing to second off a walk by the next better. An error by the short stop enabled Hopper to move to third. She came home when Tricia Hood hit to the short stop, who instead of throwing to first, made the attempt at home and couldn't get the out.
In the third inning, Hensley opened with a single through the left side. She came home when Durham hit her home run over the left field wall to make it a 4-0 game.
The Blue Hose are on the road next at East Tennessee State Saturday, March 17. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.
Presbyterian College 5, NC Central 2 (Mar 13, 2012 at Clinton, S.C.) (Game 1)
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NC Central.......... 001 100 0 - 2 7 1 (1-21)
Presbyterian College 010 310 X - 5 10 2 (6-12)
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Pitchers: NC Central - MOLINA, Bianka; BAKER, Aurora(4) and SEARLS, Andrea.
Presbyterian College - Loudermelk, Kensley; Tarvin, Cat(2); Hensley, Leslie(5) and Taylor, Erin
; Marshall, Jennifer.
Win-Loudermelk, Kensley(3-2) Save-Hensley, Leslie(1) Loss-MOLINA, Bianka(1-11) T-307 A-153
HR PC - Taylor, Erin.
Weather: High 60s, overcast
Presbyterian College 4, NC Central 0 (Mar 13, 2012 at Clinton, S.C.) (Game 2)
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NC Central.......... 000 000 0 - 0 5 2 (1-22)
Presbyterian College 112 000 X - 4 5 0 (7-12)
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Pitchers: NC Central - BAKER, Aurora and SEARLS, Andrea. Presbyterian College - Hensley, Leslie
and Marshall, Jennifer.
Win-Hensley, Leslie(3-5) Loss-BAKER, Aurora(0-9) T-1:35 A-153
HR PC - Durham, Morgan (2).
Weather: Clear skies, warm temps
