The Belmont Abbey softball team dropped both games of its
doubleheader to the visiting Newberry College Indians, falling 3-0
in the opener and 9-4 in game two. It was the season openers for
both teams.
Game one was evenly matched as both schools finished with four
hits, but Newberry took advantage of a Lady Crusader error to score
two runs in the second. Sara Powell drew a leadoff walk and then
moved to second on an error that allowed Amanda Huckestein to reach
first. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Angela Cataldo
brought home Powell with a sacrifice fly for the first run of the
game, and then Huckestein scored on a single by Christine Stokes to
push the lead to 2-0.
Newberry would extend the lead to 3-0 in the fourth as
Huckestein led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout,
and scored on a groundout by Cataldo, which would be the final.
The Abbey recorded four hits as Dani Beres, Kayla Short, Tara
Ruebel and Alysia Stewart all finished with one hit. Kristen Hicks
earned the win after scattering four hits in a complete game
effort, walking three and striking out three. Carrie Markham took
the loss after giving up three runs, one earned, in five
innings.
In game two, the Indians scored the games first seven runs after
plating one in the first, two in the second, one in the fourth and
three in the fifth. The Abbey got on the board in the fifth as
Katie Hobbs singled home Danielle Devlin, who earlier reached on a
fielder's choice. Newberry responded with two in the sixth, but the
Lady Crusaders pushed three across in their half of the frame.
Ruebel singled home Beres, who led off the inning with a walk and
moved to second on an error off the bat of Short. After a flyout by
Markham, Devlin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. An infield
fly rule followed, and the second run crossed the plate when Gina
Antonucci was hit by a pitch. Ruebel later scored on a wild pitch
for the final run of the game.
Huckestein picked up the win, giving up four hits in seven
innings, striking out five and walking three. Short was charged
with the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, in four
innings.
