The Belmont Abbey softball team suffered a pair of losses in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader at Limestone College, dropping the opener 3-2 in eight innings and losing the nightcap 8-0 in five innings. The Abbey is now 12-22 overall and 6-8 in Conference Carolinas, while Limestone moves to 18-5 overall and 9-3 in Conference Carolinas.

In game one, the Crusaders jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the third and pitcher Sami Michaelis kept Limestone off the scoreboard until the bottom of the seventh when the Saints scored on a wild pitch to force extra innings.

In the third, the first two Crusaders were retired and Kelsey Spangler kept the inning alive when she reached on a throwing error. Chelsea Elmore moved her to second with a bunt single. Kelly Schweizer followed with another single to load the bases for Anna Smart, who deposited a single to left to score Spangler with the game's first run.

Michaelis escaped trouble in the bottom of the fifth when the Saints Jordan Smith lined a one out triple, but a pair of groundouts to short ended the threat. One inning later, Michaelis again kept the Saints off the scoreboard after they put a runner on third with one out. Kirstyn Burelson led off with a double to right and was lifted for a pinch runner. A sacrifice moved her to third, and Taylor Wigmore then hit a comebacker to Michaelis, who threw home to Alysia Stewart to cut down the runner at home.

The Abbey went down in order in the top of the seventh, and Limestone, down to its final three outs, pushed the tying run across in the bottom of the inning.

Hannah Mills led off with an infield single and was sacrificed to second. Smith moved her to third on a groundout to short. With the count 0-2 to the next batter, Michaelis fired a pitch over Stewart's head that scored Mills to pull the Saints even at one apiece. Michaelis ended the threat with a strikeout on the next pitch to force extra innings.

In the eighth the Abbey regained its lead to move ahead 2-1. Kathleen Pasquarella started the inning on second base. After a strikeout, Elmore sacrificed her to third, and Schweizer brought her home with a seeing-eye single to left to put the Abbey on top 2-1. A groundout ended the inning.

For the second time in as many innings, the Saints were down to its final three outs, but they would end the game without recording an out. Shelly Brown was placed on second, and she moved to third on a bunt single by Jenna Guse. On the next at bat, Guse stole second and reached safely, but the throw sailed into centerfield, allowing Brown to score the tying run and moving Guse to third. Burleson ended the game with a single to right that brought home Guse with the winning run.

Michaelis was the tough luck loser, giving up three runs, two earned, on nine hits in seven innings. She walked three and struck out one. Emily Wallace picked up the win after giving up two unearned runs on five hits in eight innings. She fanned five and did not issue a walk.

In game two, Limestone jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after one inning, scoring four runs on five hits after the first two batters of the inning were retired. Limestone strung together three hits, a walk, and two more hits, all with two outs, to take a 4-0 advantage.

One inning later the lead grew to 5-0, as the Saints again scored after the first two batters were set down. Smith lined a triple to right center and scored on a single to center by Brown.

In the fifth the Saints ended the game with three runs on three hits as Limestone secured the 8-0 win.

Leah Quant struck out six over five scoreless innings, scattering two hits, to earn the win. Brittany Southard gave up five runs on seven hits in two thirds of an inning to take the loss. Michaelis had both of the Abbey hits. She also had a stolen base.