The Presbyterian College softball team used a Courtney White grand slam and a Lindsay Harris two-RBI double to come from behind, and then survived a furious Buc rally in the seventh, to earn the 8-7 win in the second game of a doubleheader with ETSU Wednesday afternoon in Clinton, S.C. The Bucs took game one, 7-0.
ETSU 7, PC 0
A pitching duel the opening five innings, each pitcher gave up just three runs apiece during the span. ETSU broke through in the top of the sixth with back to back solo home runs by Tiffany Laughren and Taylor Wright to take the Bucs ahead, 2-0. The visitors added five more runs in the seventh, the first with a RBI single from Nikki Grupp that brought home Lauren Lee, who was on third off a triple to left. Wright added a two-RBI single, with Vanessa Elliott adding the fourth of the inning with a RBI single to left. ETSU went up 7-0 off a PC error before a groundout ended the inning.
Kaylee Allen (0-10) went 5.0 innings, surrendering five hits and two earned runs in the loss. Madison Ogle (6-5) threw a complete game for the Bucs, striking out six, while giving up just three this in the shutout win. Megan Anderson led PC with two hits, with Courtney White collecting one. Wright paced ETSU with two hits and three RBI, with Laughren recording two this and one RBI. Elliott finished with two hits and a RBI as well.
PC recorded three hits, with three errors, while ETSU came away with seven runs off 10 hits, with no errors.
PC 8, ETSU 7
ETSU scored the first two runs of the game, with Laughren crossing the plate on a PC error in the first, and Quinn Giesick belting a solo home run over the centerfield wall in the second. The Blue Hose responded with a second inning opening walk by Hailey Caswell. She advanced to second on a fielder's choice by Lindsay Harris and an ETSU error. Presley Bissett walked to load the bases with one out. White picked the perfect time for her second career home run and first of the season, this one a grand slam to left to propel the Blue Hose to the 4-2 lead.
A two-RBI single by Elliott tied the game at 4-4 in in the top of the third, but Anderson came through in the bottom of the frame with a RBI double that brought home Chelsea Lyons, who led off the inning with a single. After A Caswell single, Harris laced a two-RBI double to left to make it 7-4 in favor of the home team. A couple of PC errors enable the Bucs to get a run across in the top of the sixth to make it 7-5, but a RBI single by Caswell in the bottom of the sixth put PC ahead by three runs again, 8-5. It was short-lived as Demi Coleman hit a two-RBI double in the seventh to make it 8-7.
Kelly Schmidt (2-4) went 2.0 innings for ETSU, giving up six earned runs off five hits. Camryn Alverson (2-1, earned the win for PC, surrendering two earned runs and five hits. Anderson and Caswell each had two hits and one RBI each, with Harris posting a hit and two RBI. White led the offense with two hits and four RBI. Elliott and Coleman led ETSU with two hits and two RBI.
PC finished with eight runs off 12 hits, with three errors, while ETSU recorded seven runs, nine hits, and two errors.
Game Two Notables
The 12 hits were the second highest of the season for PC.
PC's eight runs were second highest of the season.
Courtney White's four RBI tied for ninth in the PC DI record book.
For the Record
PC moves to 2-20 on the year, while ETSU goes to 10-12.
Up Next
The Blue Hose open Big South play Mar. 16-17, with a three-game series at Gardner-Webb. First pitch of Friday's single game is a 4 p.m., with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
How to follow
Fans can follow at www.GoBlueHose.com, and @PresbySB.
