The Belmont Abbey Softball team managed a split of a Thursday afternoon double head against Young Harris at Abbey Yard, taking the first game 4-1 and falling in the second 7-6. The Abbey is now 7-17 on the season while Young Harris is now 12-12.

"I was real proud of the girls the first game," Head Coach Ellie Hanover said. "Nikki threw very well and the girls just played quality softball. We had a very young and inexperienced lineup but they answered the call. The second game we made some costly mistakes. Young Harris did a good job of hitting the ball the second game. We have to turn the page quickly because we jump back into conference play this weekend."

In the first contest the Crusaders jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. Savannah Carpenter singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on Carol-Anne Sherrill's sacrifice bunt. Amber Faust followed with a single and advanced all the way to third as Emily Wilson's throw went wide of the mark as she attempted to throw Faust out at the third. Faust would score on Kinsey McClure's groundout for the second run of the inning.

The Abbey added a run in the bottom of the third to improve its lead to 3-0. Kaylie Mae Kuhnke led off with a single and advanced to second on Carpenter's sacrifice bunt. Sherrill came through with a doubled to right center field to plate Kuhnke.

The bottom of the fourth saw another Crusader run come across to make the score 4-0. Brooke Baliles started the inning with a single and was pinch run for by McKenzi Edwards-on loan from the basketball team-who stole second. Emma Peek then beat out an infield single to first to put runners on first and third with one out. Edwards then stole home to extend the lead to 4-1.

Young Harris pushed its only run across the plate in the top of the seventh to make the final score 4-1. Emily Wilson led off with a double and was pinch run for by Brittany Olsen who advanced to third as Jennifer Watford grounded out to first. Kayla Jones followed with a single to center field to score Olsen.

Carpenter was a perfect 2-2 at the plate with a run scored for the Abbey. Baliles went 2-3 on the day. Sherrill was 1-2 with an RBI and a double. Nikki Faust picked up the win after pitching a complete game while allowing one run and striking out four. Victoria Sink was charged with the loss.

In the second matchup the Crusaders exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-0 advantage. Jordan Killian and Peek each walked to start the rally. Killian was lifted for pinch runner Rebecca Mateo following a pitching change for the Mountain Lions. Kuhnke followed with a strikeout to leave the Abbey down to its last out. After a Carpenter walk loaded the bases, Sherrill ripped a single up the middle to bring in Peek and Mateo and push Carpenter to third. A double by Amber Faust plated two more runs as Carpenter and Sherrill scored. McClure singled to right to bring in Faust and cap the scoring in the inning.

Young Harris got on the board with two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 5-2. A single by Watford and a double by Brittany Allen put runners on second and third. Karli Timms grounded out to short to bring in Watford and Tori Dyer doubled to right center to score Allen.

The Abbey plated another run in the bottom of the fourth to push its lead to 6-2. Carpenter reached on a throwing error by Dyer to start the inning. After a Sherrill fly out Faust walked to put runners on first and second. McClure's fly out left the Crusaders with one out to work with. A fielding error by Watford allowed Baliles to reach to extend the inning. Childers took advantage of the extra out with a single to score Carpenter.

The Mountain Lions roared ahead in the top of the fifth with a five run outburst to take 7-6 advantage that they would not relinquish. Kayla Jones singled with one out and advanced to second on a fielding error by Kuhnke. Wilson followed with a double to score Jones and was doubled in by Watford on the next play. Allen's infield fly left Young Harris down to its last out. Jen Spradling reached on an error by Baliles to extend the inning. A single by Suzannah Eubanks scored Watford and moved Spradling to second who was pinch run for by Olsen. Dyer's single up the middle loaded the bases. Paige Sexton followed with a single to plate Eubanks and Olson.

Sherrill and Faust each went 1-3 at the plate with two RBIs apiece and a run scored. Childers was 1-4 with a clutch two out RBI. Kailey Browning earned the win in relief, as she allowed an unearned run on one hit in two and two-thirds innings. Sink picked up the save. Emily Self was charged with the loss.

Watford and Wilson lead the way for Young Harris as they each went 2-4 with an RBI each with Watford scoring two runs and Wilson scoring one.

Game One Box

Game Two Box