CLINTON, S.C. – On a day where senior pitcher Jenna Greene and sophomore slugger Morgan Hess each imprinted a permanent mark in the school record books, the Presbyterian College softball squad shared one victory each while going head-to-head with Gardner-Webb in the last Big South Conference set of 2023 to occur from home. First-baseman Kendall Owens was responsible for a 4-3 walk-off win that got the day started before the Runnin' Bulldogs fired back with a 5-1 decision in Game 2 on Saturday.

By tossing her 14^th complete game of the semester that improves a personal record to 11-9, Greene now holds the distinction as the all-time Blue Hose leader in career victories (49). Facing 30 batters and letting just three runs get by, the fourth-year superstar has officially zoomed past Leslie Hensley (2009-12) to break an 11-year long record, advancing one step closer to the half-century mark.

As if Greene's history-maker wasn't enough, Hess decided to join the record-smashing with a solo home run in the final inning of the afternoon, a swing that allowed the Virginia native to reach the summit among all previous Presbyterian players in the dingers' category. Hess needed less than two full seasons to fly past Hope Rogers (2014-17) for the highest HR count encapsulating all who've worn the blue and garnet, clearing the fence 29 times with her 13^th this year.
 
NOTABLES
- Although hits were few and far between in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader, that certainly wasn't the case in round one as Owens and fellow infielder Kaitlyn Tucker synced up for five hits in six tries. In possession of the team's most efficient batting average altogether, Owens gained major points upwards by managing her first three-hit effort in a single game, her 11^th time posting at least two to lead all teammates.

- Never claiming an outright lead until the matchup's final play – the aforementioned game-ender from Owens in the 7^th that brought home shortstop Layna Johnson – PC finally broke through after climbing to a tie on two separate occasions during the first contest courtesy of Owens' two-out dagger down the rightfield marker.

- Denoting the second time over a period of three home bouts that head coach David Williams' crew emerged victorious in walk-off form (following in Rebecca Clark's footsteps during the series opener versus Radford), Owens joined Lath Freeman and Mallory Fletcher as the game's RBI-collectors, where the catcher/rightfielder tandem were the catalysts for the earlier ties.

- The freshman combo of Morgan Farthing and Gracie DeCuir rounded out Presbyterian's hit total in the Game 1 victory, earning the team's second W in a series opener thus far on the calendar. Pinch runner Jenna Borkey tallied her ninth run of the spring off of Fletcher's connection in the 6^th that set the stage for Owens' knockout, while Johnson compiled her fourth performance of '23 with at least a pair of home plate sprints.
 
GAME 1 – Presbyterian (25-17, 6-9) def. Gardner-Webb (16-32, 5-11) – 4-3
- Owens' rifle may have gifted the Blue Hose their 25^th triumph of the year, although the squad's collective staying power at the plate enabled them to finally break through against G-W twirlers Andrea Lyon and Alli Stidham (five hits versus both). This, combined with Greene never letting the Runnin' Bulldogs get too comfortable, provided the blueprint for the eventual fist-pumper at the climax.

- Falling behind by a deuce in the game's early moments, Freeman delivered the desired spark in the bottom of the 3^rd while boosting her season's RBI accumulation to 23. Once Gardner-Webb countered on a 5^th-inning sacrifice bunt to stay in front, Fletcher responded by bringing in her fifth score over conference action in the next chapter that brought the odds back to an even playing field.

- Showcasing again why late-game pressure situations haven't phased them, the Blue Hose worked calmly in their last chance and locked the door on thoughts of a Gardner-Webb wire-to-wire win. That clutch bang from Owens registered as the 17^th win at the PC Softball Complex for the program since February and 40^th home victory over the past two campaigns.
 
GAME 2 – Gardner-Webb (17-32, 6-11) def. Presbyterian (25-18, 6-10) – 5-1
- Although Presbyterian was only able to muster two hits as the Runnin' Bulldogs tied things up for the series as a whole, coach Williams' club was able to celebrate the minor consolation in the form of Hess' record-setter in the bottom of the 7^th.

- Gardner-Webb pitcher Kalyn Kyle reached 13 strikeouts in the DH's second half opposite Hess, who balanced her homer with another full-game effort in the circle, although the visitors were powerless to stop PC's 33^rd longball of the season to reach 76 extra-base swings overall.
 
UP NEXT
- For the fourth occasion out of six Big South sets, the Blue Hose find themselves approaching a Game 3 situation with the series in the balance. Needing to string late-season wins together in a quest to make the league's top four, thus purchasing them a trip to the conference tournament in May, PC will search for their fifth win over the Runnin' Bulldogs out of the last seven encounters tomorrow in the finale.

- First pitch in Clinton is scheduled for 3:00 PM, with coach Williams and co. honoring seniors Greene, Freeman, Johnson, and Clark in a pregame ceremony for their invaluable contributions to the program.