The Belmont Abbey softball team split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with the visiting Lees-McRae Bobcats, winning the opener 2-1 on a game winning two RBI single by Tara Ruebel in the bottom of the seventh, and falling 1-0 in the nightcap. The Abbey is now 3-11 overall and 1-3 in Conference Carolinas, while Lees-McRae is now 8-6 overall and 1-1 in Conference Carolinas.

In the opener, Kayla Short limited Lees-McRae to just one run on eight hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking none in a complete game effort to earn the win. Magen West took the loss after allowing the winning runs to score in six innings of work. She allowed two hits, struck out four and walked one.

Lees-McRae jumped ahead 1-0 in the first as Amanda Dodson doubled to the gap in right center, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Paula Fryar.

That was all of the scoring until the bottom of the seventh, as Short and West held both offenses scoreless while getting out of several jams, but the Abbey would take advantage of two Bobcat errors in the bottom of the seventh to walk away with the win.

Katie Hobbs led off the inning reaching on an error and moved to second on a single by Dani Beres. After Dodson relieved West in the circle, Hobbs and Beres moved up one base on an errant throw by Fryar back to Dodson after a pitch. Ruebel followed with a single to left that brought home Hobbs with the tying run, and Beres with the winning run as she beat the throw home.

The Abbey finished with three hits, two in the seventh inning, while Lees-McRae recorded eight as Dodson finished three for three.

Game two was also a pitchers duel, as Dodson and Carrie Markham combined to allow just six hits. Dodson earned the win after striking out nine over seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits. Markham fanned one and allowed an unearned run on four hits in five innings.

Lees-McRae scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning, taking advantage of an Abbey error. Anna Carter led off with a single and moved to second on a groundout. After a popup, Carter moved to third on a fielder's choice. Dodson was then walked to load the bases for Veronica Ollier, who reached on a fielding error, allowing Carter to score an unearned run. The Abbey never threatened again as Lees-McRae earned the split.