CLINTON, S.C. – Rookie second-baseman Hali Duke of the Presbyterian College softball team had her finest moment thus far as the Blue Hose outlasted Morehead State 3-2 on Sunday, hitting a crucial home run in the 4^th inning that proved important down the stretch.

PC's first longball of the young season, Duke's hammer was enough for the Scotsmen to get to 2-2 on opening weekend as they hosted an invitational against four other institutions.

Now 4-1 versus the Eagles over the past three seasons, Presbyterian grinded out their second one-run victory of 2026 already. Kylie Rast logged her first complete game in a Blue Hose uniform, allowing just four hits in 29 at-bats.

Head coach David Williams and co. will remain on their home turf next weekend for another tourney where they are scheduled for five games. They'll encounter Mercyhurst, UAlbany, and ETSU.


 
FINAL SCORE: Presbyterian, 3 – Morehead State, 2
RECORDS: Presbyterian (2-2) – Morehead State (0-4)


 
HOW IT HAPPENED

 
- Duke and leftfielder Morgan Farthing combined to go 4-of-5 with the bat in their hands. The latter sent in an RBI-triple in the 2^nd inning and later scored on an RBI-groundout by freshman Cierra Grice.

- Defense was the driving factor for both teams in the last of 10 total games at the PC Softball Complex, with Rast throwing 108 pitches and limiting a would-be Morehead comeback in the top of the 6^th.

- The Eagles pulled to within one score after an infield error with two outs, although Rast forced a fly ball to rookie Ava Coggins which ended that threat.

- Therefore, the earlier home run from Duke is what kept PC ahead. Things would stay that way after Rast allowed just one base-runner in the 7^th, again ending that sequence with a fly ball to Coggins.