The Presbyterian College softball rallied back from a 4-2 deficit with four runs in the sixth to take the 6-4 win over East Tennessee State in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at the PC Softball Complex. ETSU took the 5-4 win a second game that was called due to darkness in the bottom of the seventh with PC runners on first and second with just one out.
PC moves to 8-10 on the year, while ETSU is now 9-9. The Blue Hose host UNC Wilmington in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader Saturday, Mar. 14 at 1 p.m.
Leading the day for PC was Kersten Legacki, who went three for five with three RBI off two doubles and a home run. Her two doubles came in game one, with both of them RBI hits to help PC to the two-run win. She knocked her team-leading fifth home run of the season in the third inning of game two, to help the Blue Hose take a 2-1 lead.
The second game also saw Abby Allen collect her first career home run with a shot over the left field fence in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. Allen finished the doubleheader with two hits and three RBI, her other a double in game one that drove in two runs, one of them the eventual game-winner.
Hope Rogers collected three hits on the day, as did Shelby Petik. Her first hit of the first game was a single down the left field line in the third inning that plated Jill McLean for PC's first run of the game. McLean, who was two-of-seven, reached base in that frame off a double to left.
Erin Taylor went three-for seven on the day, hit a RBI single in PC's four-run sixth inning of game one. Padgett Harrington, as a pinch hitter in both games, went one-for-two with one RBI, it coming off a double in the fourth inning to help the Blue Hose cut the ETSU deficit to just one, 5-4.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two, Legacki drew a walk. Taylor followed it up with a base hit through the left side. PC looked to be rallying with Rogers, who was coming off of back to back singles, stepping up to the plate. At that time the ETSU coach and officials met with the PC head coach and it was decided the game should end due to darkness.
Leading ETSU was Bethany Cowart, Emilie Hensley and Nicole Fox, each of whom collected three hits apiece. Latosha Rectenwald hit two home runs on the day and a team-leading four RBI. Her home run in game two was a three-run shot over the left field fence that saw the Bucs take a 5-2 lead. Her first of the day helped ETSU take a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Hensley added a two-run home run in the second inning of game one as the Bucs jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Taylor Carter only had one hit, but it was a home run to give ETSU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two.
Kenlsey Loudermelk started game one for PC, throwing 4.0 innings and surrendering three runs off five hits. Katie Brown came in relief for 3.0 innings and surrendered one run off five hits to pick up the win (1-0). Taylor Carter pitched 5.0 innings in game one for ETSU, giving up five earned runs off nine hits (4-4).
Sydney Seigler started game two, throwing 3.0 innings and giving up five runs off five hits for the loss (2-5). Whitney Leon went 6.1 innings and surrendered nine hits and three earned runs for the win (3-2).
