CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College softball team added to its impressive home resume in recent years by outlasting a quality Mercer opponent in the first half of Tuesday evening's twinbill in Clinton, reaching a 2-1 decision in the opener before dropping a 7-0 result in the nightcap that ended the doubleheader with a split.

The squad's 26^th victory on their home turf since February of 2022, the Blue Hose's pitching duo of Peyton Duncan and Jenna Greene silenced the Bears in the first attempt to the tune of zero runs-batted-in.

That translated to PC's third win of the campaign by a sole score, grinding out the closest margin possible in each of their past two victories dating back to March 17's eighth-inning walk-off over Winthrop that gifted the Scotsmen a 2-1 Big South series W.

Junior first baseman / designated player Kendall Owens (a 2023 transfer from Mercer) produced both RBI versus her former university, bringing in Kaitlyn Tucker on both occasions in the 4^th and 6^th stanzas.

Presbyterian returns to divisional action this weekend after four straight non-conference encounters, traveling to Longwood on Friday and Saturday following their solid start to Big South duels.

 
GAME ONE: PRESBYTERIAN (11-20) def. MERCER (12-17) – 2-1
 
- The Bears' lone score of the first bout came in unorthodox fashion (a passed ball near the midway point) although that small blunder was totally forgotten thanks to Owens' two swings in consecutive at-bats that mirrored each other to score Tucker.

- Duncan turned in an efficient stint in the eighth start of her sophomore year, giving up only four hits out of 22 batters faced.

- Greene finished the deal after entering the fray in the 5^th with the conclusion hanging in the balance, promptly striking out four and never letting any of the last 11 batters even things up.

- Logging her 55^th career win in a nerve-racking sequence where defense prevailed, Greene forced a pop-up to Owens in the top of the 7^th to put a stamp on the victory and give the Bears a dose of defeat in their first-ever visit to the PC Softball Complex.

- Finishing second on the roster in RBI last spring, Owens now leads the way in that department with 22. The Virginia native had compiled a combined 5 runs-batted-in within a three-game period, ultimately seeing an impressive eight-game streak of at least one RBI come to an end in the second matchup.

 
GAME TWO: MERCER (13-17) def. PRESBYTERIAN (11-21) – 7-0
 
- Mercer rebounded in the rematch by shutting out the Blue Hose to account for the split. Both sides registered five hits, with rookie Kasey Wolfe throwing the last 5.2 innings while also acquiring a 2-of-3 showing with the bat in her hands.

- None of the four runs that Wolfe conceded were earned, reaching her sixth multi-hit effort of the semester already and second instance over the past three contests.

- As a matter of fact, Wolfe's .310 hitting clip surpasses all on the club at present day, calculating a team-high .430 on-base percentage through 31 appearances.

 
UP NEXT
 
- Longwood will host the Blue Hose this weekend in a Big South series between two units who both hold a 2-1 league record, as the Lancers got the better of Gardner-Webb in their lone conference set by back-to-back 4-0 margins.

- While Presby's upcoming foe only holds a 9-19 resume, that schedule has included renowned programs such as Alabama, Villanova, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Virginia, Clemson, and Virginia Tech.

- PC has faced off with the Lancers 26 times since becoming conference mates, only battling twice in '23 instead of the standard three outings due to weather interference.

- Game One in Farmville is slotted for 5:00 PM this Friday, turning right around for a doubleheader on March 30 at 1:00 and 3:00.