The Presbyterian College softball team used a two-run home run by Cat Tarvin to earn the 4-1 win over Radford in game two of a Big South doubleheader this afternoon at the PC Softball Complex in Clinton, S.C. The Highlanders scored eight runs in the first three innings to take the 11-1, five-inning win in game one.
The Blue Hose move to 19-22 overall and 5-9 in the league, while the Highlanders end the day at 15-23, 8-6. PC and Radford square off in the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
Today's doubleheader was PC's annual Strike out Cancer game with donations being collected by each student-athlete for every strikeout made during the day. There were a total of 18 Ks and all money raised will go to the American Cancer Society.
Game One: Radford 11, PC 1 (5)
The Blue Hose scattered seven hits but stranded eight in the loss. Several runners made it into scoring position throughout the game, including in the third when PC loaded the bases, helped in part by singles from Tera Powell and Jill McLean, both of whom went two-for-three in the game, with one out. PC couldn't convert as the last two batters were retired off a foul out and a pop out.
PC's lone run came in the fifth inning when Shelby Petik hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season, this one sailing over the right field wall.
Tarvin threw 2.0 innings and gave up four earned runs off five hits in the loss (4-3).
Radford struck early with three runs in the first inning, two coming off a two-RBI single by Casey Burns. A two-RBI single by Emily Naefele helped the Highlanders make it a 5-0 game after the second inning, with a two-RBI double from Whitney Davis, who ended the game with two hits and three RBI, helping Radford to an 8-0 lead after three.
Davis collected her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, while Ryndee Ruch added one of her own with a solo home run to left center as Radford took added three more to earn the 11-1 win in the inning-shortened game one.
Rachel Walters threw 5.0 innings and earned the win (11-7) after scattering seven hits and surrendering just one run.
Game Two: PC 4, Radford 1
A pitching duel for much of game two, Radford scored first, putting up a run in the top of the third inning. After reaching first, then second, on a PC error, Ruch advanced to third off a single by Becky Mantel. She scored the next at-bat when PC threw to second on a steal attempt by Mantel, allowing her to score.
PC responded in the bottom of the third with two runs after Erin Ruff reached on a Radford error and scored off a two-run homer from Tarvin, her seventh of the season, this one a shot down the right field line to give the Blue Hose their first lead of the day.
The Blue Hose added two runs in the fifth after McLean, who was two-for-two in game two, singled with one out and scored two batters later off a Radford fielding error. Petik collected her second hit of the day and first of the game with a RBI single that plated Erin Ruff as PC took the 4-1 lead.
Kensley Loudermelk kept Radford in check the next two innings, including in the seventh where she struck out the final two batters to preserve the win. She ended the game with just one unearned run given up and eight strikeouts. She allowed four hits en route to her 10th win of the season (10-10).
Jackie Jenkins moved to 3-16 on the year after going 6.0 innings and giving up two earned runs off eight hits.
