Shelby Petik's double in the bottom of the eighth gave the Presbyterian College softball team the 3-2 extra-inning win over UNC Wilmington in the second game Sunday afternoon at the PC Softball Complex, sealing the doubleheader sweep. Pitching was the story in game one as the Blue Hose earned the 8-0 six inning win in the shut out. Sydney Seigler earned the victory for PC in the circle, giving up just two hits to a team that had averaged almost seven hits a game coming into Sunday's action.
PC improves to 10-10 on the year, while UNC Wilmington drops to 11-6. The Blue Hose open conference play Tuesday, Mar. 17, against Gardner-Webb with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
Leading the Blue Hose offensively was Petik, who went three-for-four with two RBI. She was a perfect three-for-three in game two. Jill Mclean was four-for-seven with five runs scored, while Hope Rogers finished three-for-six.
Merritt Wilkinson led UNC Wilmington, going four-four six, all four of her hits coming in game two.
Pitching was strong for both teams, with Seigler carrying a 0.00 ERA and Kensley Loudermelk holding a .88 ERA. Sarah Davis carried a 0.95 ERA for UNCW, with Casey Rowland posting a 1.75 ERA.
Game One: PC 8, UNCW 0 (6)
Seigler held UNC Wilmington to just two hits in game one, the first coming from Kelsey Bryan to open the top of the first. Seigler, who finished with three strikeouts, didn't give up another hit until a single by Davis in the top of the sixth, retiring the side in order in the second third and fourth innings.
UNC Wilmington's biggest threat came in the sixth after putting runners on first and second off a ht-by-pitch and walk with two outs on the board. The next batter lined out to second to end the threat.
PC scored two runs in the third off back to back base hits by Jill McLean and Kersten Legacki, with them scoring off a wild pitch and an error by the catcher to give the Blue Hose the 2-0 lead.
The Blue Hose opened the bottom of the fifth with two straight walks. A hit-by-pitch an out later loaded the bases, with runs coming in off a Seahawk error and RBI singles from Hope Rogers, Jenna Harris and Abby Allen to make it 7-0 in favor of the home team.
McLean opened the bottom of the sixth with a base hit up the middle. After stealing second she made it to third off an Erin Ruff single back to the pitcher. A wild pitch brought McLean home for the game-ending eighth run.
Casey Rowland went 4.0 innings for UNCW, giving up one earned run off three hits, while striking out eight. The Blue Hose finished with eight hits and one error. The Seahawks picked up two errors, resulting in six runs.
Game Two: PC 3, UNCW 2 (8)
Petik laced a double to left to drive in two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally from a 2-1 deficit and take the 3-2 win in extra innings over the Seahawks in game two.
McLean opened the bottom of the first with a single back to the pitcher and made it to third the same play after the UNCW pitcher missed the throw to first. McLean scored the next play off a fielder's choice from Legacki and PC took the early 1-0 lead.
The Seahawks responded in the third with a solo home run by Nella Chamblee and the score was knotted at 1-1.
Neither team would score the remainder of regulation as the game went into the eighth. Jessica Rappe gave UNCW a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth after scoring off a RBI single from Casey Rowland.
Pinch runner Courtney Lawton was placed on second to start the eighth. She advanced to third on a base hit by McLean. After McLean stole second, both came home when Petik launched a ball to the left field fence to bring in the two runs, ending the game.
Loudermelk picked up the win (4-3), going the distance and surrendering just one earned run and six hits, with three strikeouts. Sarah Davis took the loss (4-2), giving up eight hits, one earned run, while striking out seven.
