Kensley Loudermelk struck out eight, while Erin Taylor drove in two RBI, to lead the #6 seed Presbyterian College softball team to the 4-2 win over #3 seed Radford in the first round of the Big South softball tournament being held in Conway, S.C. With the win, PC advances to face #7 seed Charleston Southern in the winners' bracket at 4:30 p.m., Friday.
PC improves to 26-24 overall, while Radford drops to 22-29.
“Along with Kensley Loudermelk's pitching, I thought our team kept their composure and intensity throughout the game,” said Head Coach Kama Tucker. “It was a tough battle; Radford is obviously a good team. It is the only team that we hadn't beaten at all this year and we knew going in that we had to change our game plan.”
Shelby Petik led off the top of the second with a double up the middle. After the Highlanders retired the next two batters, Taylor laced a single to left center, driving in Petik for the game's first run. Taylor would advance to second off a defensive error that same play, but wouldn't get any further after the next Blue Hose batter popped up to the second baseman to end the top half of the inning with PC on top 1-0.
Back to back singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs for Radford in the bottom of the second inning. Summer Robinson grounded out to third to end the inning and threat, as PC held on to the one-run lead heading to the third.
Whitney Davis tied the game in the bottom of the third with a solo home run, her 10th of the season, this one over the left field wall.
PC responded in the top of the fifth with a solo shot by Taylor. Her fourth home run of the season sailed over the left field wall to give the Blue Hose the lead again at 2-1.
Another inning for Radford and another home run, this one by Jessie Hutchens, her 18th, to knot the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Hope Rogers singled to center field. Petik doubled to right center the next at-bat, enabling a quick Rogers to score the go-ahead run. Petik added a fourth run when Kersten Legacki singled down the right field line, bringing her home.
Radford loaded the bases again in the bottom of the sixth but a fly-out by Robinson ended the inning with PC still on top, 4-2. Radford put runners on base in the seventh, but Loudermelk continued her solid performance, keeping the Highlanders at bay and giving the Blue Hose the 4-2 win.
Leading PC was Taylor, who went two-for-three with two RBI, followed by Petik, who was also two-for-three with one RBI. Also collecting a hit apiece were Rogers and Legacki.
Loudermelk moved to 4-7 on the year, throwing a complete game, surrendering just two runs off nine hits, while striking out eight with no walks.
“Kensley has matured so much from this time last season. She stays much more focused and is able to work herself out of a jam by taking one pitch at a time, one pitcher at a time.”
Rachael Walters threw 5.1 innings for the loss to move to 11-15 on the year. She struck out six but gave up four runs off five hits. Abby Morrow came in relief for 1.2 innings, throwing a one-hit shut-out.
As a team, the Blue Hose collected six hits with no errors. Radford recorded nine hits, but had two errors. PC stranded just three runners, compared to 10 for Radford.
Presbyterian College 4, Radford 2 (May 08, 2014 at Conway, S.C.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Presbyterian College 010 012 0 - 4 6 0 (26-24)
Radford............. 001 010 0 - 2 9 2 (22-29)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Presbyterian College - Loudermelk, Kensley and Ashley, Jordan. Radford - WALTERS, R.;
MORROW, A.(6) and HUTCHENS, J..
Win-Loudermelk, Kensley(4-7) Loss-WALTERS, R.(11-15) T-1:53 A-393
HR PC - Taylor, Erin (4).
HR RAD - HUTCHENS, J. (18); DAVIS, W. (10).
Weather: 81 degrees, clear
