CLINTON, S.C. – Spreading out 21 hits between a Friday afternoon two-parter on their way to a 1-1 split in the first half of the Blue Hose Invitational, the Presbyterian College softball team furiously bounced back from a round one loss to Tennessee Tech (3-2) by trouncing Norfolk State immediately thereafter in a 13-0 run-rule.

Offering up the program's largest margin of victory since a 14-0 triumph over NC Central in February of 2022, PC tipped the first domino of an eight-run opening inning against the Spartans in a meeting that led to 11 different Blue Hose batters smacking the ball at least once.

The school's 18^th win at home dating back to the previous campaign, Presby now sits at 1-1 with another doubleheader incoming in less than 24 hours. They'll search for a dose of revenge against the Golden Eagles, while also looking to keep up their scorching-hot offense from the second contest on Friday.

 
NOTABLES
 
- Although Presbyterian benefitted from their veterans as they grabbed win number one in head coach David Williams' sixth year with the university, a number of newcomers also impressed including freshman Kasey Wolfe who achieved three hits in her collegiate debut – along with a run scored and a run driven in – while also pitching three frames of the season's inaugural affair.

- Fellow newbie Emma Yanes made her presence felt as well in the nightcap, drilling a two-run homer versus the Spartans that helped make the deficit grow by an even larger figure at 11-0. The Georgia State transfer went yard in her very first at-bat in a PC uniform, sending the dugout and attendees into a frenzy.

- The aforementioned first-stanza explosion denoted PC's first time scoring eight runs in a single inning over the past five years (coincidentally a 9-9 tie against ETSU during Williams' first year as the man in charge), the team's ninth occasion scoring at least 10 in a sole contest dating back to 2022.

- Getting the nod as the lead-off batter in both games, junior shortstop Kelby Goodrum was incendiary against NSU. The North Carolinian went a perfect three-for-three at the plate while adding two RBI and two other scores from her own feet.

- DP Kendall Owens and pinch-hitter Gracyn Hyatt registered their own flawless performances against the Spartans, each going two-for-two with five combined runs-driven-in (part of 14 RBI from the roster altogether).

- To virtually no one's surprise, fifth-year senior Jenna Greene turned in a typical lights-out effort when starting the Spartan encounter, shelving six batters in just four innings while allowing only three hits.

- Expanding upon what's already the program record, Greene's W on Friday was the 50^th of her remarkable career. Furthermore, she needs only 12 more strikeouts to become the first player in Presbyterian history to reach 600 K's.

 
GAME ONE – TENNESSEE TECH (2-0) def. PRESBYTERIAN (0-1), 3-2
 
- Coach Williams' crew started off the season slightly sluggish against a Tennessee Tech foe that grabbed an earlier 4-3 triumph against NSU, reaching two runs in the bottom of the 4^th after trailing by a trio but were unable to finish the flurry as TTU held on for the remaining three frames.

- Third on the team in RBI a year ago, Owens was responsible for the first run of the semester by bringing home first baseman Jillian Hewes, leading to Wolfe's aforementioned RBI single that in turn scored Owens to bring the game within a sole score.

- PC closed the bout with two runners left stranded in the 5^th, forced to abruptly end the game after a controversial umpire decision at first-base caused Goodrum to be declared out and the Golden Eagles to steal the road victory.

 
GAME TWO – PRESBYTERIAN (1-1) def. NORFOLK STATE (0-2), 13-0 – 5 INNINGS
 
- Indicating the magnitude of just how large of a whipping that Presbyterian laid on their Commonwealth opponent, the home squad saw 14 at-bats before the board even jumped to the 2^nd inning. Owens and Gracie DeCuir published two-score doubles right out of the gates as the team connected on eight pitches in the 1^st that left NSU in the dust.

- From there, all that the Blue Hose and Greene needed was to keep the Spartans from mounting any kind of rhythm. That goal was achieved, making the shutout even more devastating after Yanes' longball in the 3^rd and a final RBI from Hyatt in the next chapter.

- Adding to the mountain of records that Greene has already created, the senior amassed her 21^st career showing of denying the other side a single run, backed by an order that roared to five extra-base smacks.

 
NEXT UP
 
- Friday's DH was the beginning of an eight-game sequence of staying at home for Williams' club, returning to the same field when the sun comes up for two more clashes with the same opponents (only flipped this time).

- Presby will take on Norfolk State in a rematch at approximately 2:30 PM, going straight from that dual into another second round versus Tennessee Tech (approx.. 5:00 PM).