Shelby Petik hit her fourth home run of the season to break open a 2-2 tie and lead the Presbyterian College softball team to the 4-2 win over South Carolina State in non-conference action Thursday afternoon in Clinton, S.C. The Blue Hose were leading the Bulldogs, 6-1 in the fourth inning of game two before weather forced the game to be called.
PC improves to 18-17 overall, while S.C. State drops to 5-18. The Blue Hose are off for the weekend and resume action at Winthrop April 15 in a 6 p.m., game.
Knotted 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Petik, who led the team with two hits and three RBI, launched a line drive that just cleared the right field fence to bring her home, as well as Jenna Harris, who was on off a single the previous at-bat.
Petik recorded the game's first RBI, with a single to right, that plated Jill McLean to give PC the early 1-0 lead. McLean had opened the game with a bunt single and a stolen base.
After the Bulldogs tied the game, 1-1, with a RBI single by Deanna Sullivan in the third, Erin Ruff responded in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run, her fifth of the season, to make it a 2-1 game.
Tiara Lovejoy knocked over her first home run of the season, this one in the top of the fifth to tie the game again at 2-2, setting up Petik's bomb the bottom of the frame.
PC finished with eight hits, compared to five for the Bulldogs. Keirra Cromer took the loss (2-4), going the distance and surrendering two earned runs, with two strikeouts. Kensley Loudermelk earned the win (12-6), giving up two earned runs, while striking out five. S.C. State committed one error, with PC recording none.
Due to game two being called before the fifth inning, the stats and results for that contest are negated.
Presbyterian College 4, S.C. State 2 (Apr 09, 2015 at Clinton, S.C.) (Game 1)
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S.C. State.......... 001 010 0 - 2 5 1 (5-18)
Presbyterian College 100 120 X - 4 8 0 (18-17)
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Pitchers: S.C. State - CROMER,Keirra and SULLIVAN,Deanna. Presbyterian College -
LOUDERMELK, Kensley and TAYLOR, Erin.
Win-LOUDERMELK, Kensley(12-6) Loss-CROMER,Keirra(2-4) T-132 A-136
HR SCSUSB - LOVEJOY,Tiara (1).
HR PC - PETIK, Shelby (4); RUFF, Erin (5).
Weather: sunny, mid 80s
