The Belmont Abbey softball team earned a doubleheader sweep of
the visiting Saint Andrews Presbyterian Knights, getting a 2-0 win
in game two and rallying back from a 2-0 deficit to take game two
4-2. The Abbey moves to 14-12 overall and 6-2 in Conference
Carolinas, already doubling its Conference win total from last
season, while Saint Andrews drops to 3-27 overall and 0-8 in
Conference Carolinas.
"We struggled at the plate today and we couldn't make any
adjustments," Head Coach Ellie Hanover said. "A win is a win and of
course we will take it. We just need to get better. We will get
back out onto the field Monday and continue to improve our game.
Sami was just brilliant coming in on relief, and Becca came up huge
at the plate. I'm glad we found ways to make it happen."
In the opener, the first nine batters of the game were set down
in order before the Abbey scored the only runs of the game in the
second inning. Anna Smart led off with a single and moved to second
on a fielder's choice when Tara Ruebel reached. Kim Anders
sacrificed both runners up one base, and Candace Cady reached on an
error that allowed Smart to score from third. After a popout, Cady
stole second, and the throw sailed into centerfield allowing Ruebel
to score easily for an unearned run.
Both teams threatened in the third, as SAPC put runners on
second and third with one out, but Anders ended the threat with a
pair of strikeouts. In the bottom of the inning, the Abbey had two
runners on with one out, but an unassisted putout at third and a
caught stealing ended the inning.
Neither team had another scoring chance again, as the Abbey
ended the game with a double play groundout.
Anders took the win in a complete game effort, scattering three
hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out seven. Ashley
Disque took the loss after giving up two unearned runs on four
hits, striking out five in six innings.
Erin Evans finished with two of the Abbey's four hits, while
three different Knights registered hits for Saint Andrews.
In game two, the Abbey scored four unanswered runs after
trailing 2-0 in the third inning, and Sami Michaelis struck out the
final six batters of the game to preserve the 4-2 win.
The Knights plated two in the top of the third as Danyell
Marquez lashed a two-RBI single to left center, scoring Lex Cowger
and Kaitlin Harris.
Belmont Abbey had its best scoring opportunity in the fourth,
when it put two runners in scoring position with one out. After a
strikeout, Megan Riveros drew a walk to load the bases, but a
groundout ended the threat, but one inning later, the Abbey scored
three runs to take a lead it would never lose.
After a groundout by Kasey Kerley, Carol-Anne Sherrill was hit
by a pitch to bring up Becca Rothrock, who blasted her second homer
of the year, a shot to left center, to knot the game at two. Smart
followed with a double to right center, and after a strikeout, Cady
blasted a double to the wall in right center, as Smart raced home
for the go-ahead run.
One inning later the Crusaders pushed across an insurance run,
as Evans started the rally with a one-out single to right and moved
to second on a groundout by Kerley. Sherrill followed with a walk,
and both runners moved up one base on a wild pitch. Rothrock loaded
the bases by drawing a four pitch walk, and Evans came in two
pitches later on a wild pitch, just sliding in ahead of the
tag.
Michaelis, who entered the game with two outs in the fifth, did
not allow a base runner as she retired the final seven batters of
the game, the last six by strikeout, to earn the win in relief of
Emily Self. Self allowed two runs on six hits, striking out two.
Disque took the loss after yielding three runs on five hits in five
innings, fanning two.
Both teams finished with six hits as Evans and Smart led the
Abbey with two each. Marquez led the Knights with two hits in three
at bats with two RBI.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
