CLINTON, S.C.- The Presbyterian College softball team won their first conference series over Radford this weekend, coming out on top in two of the three games. The Blue Hose and Highlanders split Sunday's doubleheader with PC winning game one, 4-2, and Radford taking game two, 7-4.
Game 1
Radford opened the scoring on the second pitch of the game as a long ball was sent over the center field wall. The Highlanders threatened by loading the bases, but
Morgan Hess was able to utilize the strikeout to get out of the inning. Hess helped her own cause by coming to the plate in the 2
nd and crushing a ball to center to tie the game at one. The Highlanders got their lead back as they went up 2-1 in the 3
rd, but the Blue Hose also came back in the 3
rd.
Kelby Goodrum led things off with a solo homer to left-center for her second in as many days.
Bailey Watkins singled and would make it to third after a couple of outs.
Lath Freeman would pop a ball high in the air which was dropped by the pitcher to allow Watkins to cross the plate and give PC the lead. Hess sat down Radford 1-2-3 in the 4
th and 5
th to calm things down. In the bottom of the 5
th,
Layna Johnson fired her team up again with a solo homerun to center as the ball was flying out of the park. PC kept the inning alive with runners on second and third, but they couldn't extend the lead. Radford made it interesting in the 7
th as they got the bases loaded, but Hess was having none of it and struck out three batters to end the game and give PC the win.
Game 2
As Radford did in game one of the doubleheader, they opened the scoring in the 1
st by way of a double off
Jenna Greene. Greene was able to sit down Radford 1-2-3 in the 2
nd inning as PC cashed in during their turn at the plate. With
Morgan Hess at third and
Rebecca Clark at second, Goodrum put a ball in play which was botched by the infield, allowing Hess to tie the game. The Highlanders got their lead back in the 4
th with a two-run homerun to put them up 3-1. PC was unable to claw their way back this time as Radford added a fourth and fifth run in the 5
th inning. Presbyterian struggled at the plate as Radford added two more in the 6
th to go up 7-1. The Blue Hose got out of a jam in the 7
th as they had one last chance to comeback.
Jaiden Tweed and
Skylar Page got aboard with one out as Johnson ripped one to right to score Tweed.
Kaitlyn Tucker walked to load the bases and Freeman used a sac fly to bring home Page. Hewes reached on an error which allowed Johnson to cross the plate, now 7-4. With PC's most dangerous hitter at the plate in
Morgan Hess, a homerun would tie the game. Unfortunately for Hess and her team, Radford got the final out to end the game before a full comeback was mounted.
Notables
- Kelby Goodrum hit her second homerun of the year. Layna Johnson added her second as well and Morgan Hess hit her team-leading fifth of the season.
- Hess tallied 12 strikeouts in her game one win over Radford. This is the third time this season Hess has punched out 10 or more in a game.
- After the weekend, Jenna Greene and Morgan Hess each have eight wins, tying each other for the team lead.
- PC was held to a .192 batting avg. in game two, their third lowest output of the season.
