The Belmont Abbey softball team suffered a pair of tough one run losses at Limestone this afternoon, dropping the opener 1-0 and falling 2-1 in eight innings in game two. Limestone improves to 21-15 overall and 13-3 in Conference Carolinas, while the Abbey falls to 8-28 overall and 1-13 in Conference Carolinas.

In game one, both teams rapped out four hits, but only Limestone crossed the plate, which it did in the first. Amanda Hayes tripled home Ashley Cox, which turned out to be the only run of the contest.

Belmont Abbey put runners in scoring position three times, but could not capitalize, spoiling the pitching effort of Caitlyn Pressley, who allowed just four hits, striking out three and walking one in six innings. Shelly Webb earned the win after tossing a complete-game shutout, fanning four.

Amber Faust collected two of the Abbey's four hits, while Hannah Bright and Kaitlyn Jones had one each.

Game two went extra innings, as Limestone took advantage of the international tiebreaker rule to score the winning run. After the Saints struck for a run in the first off an Abbey error, the Crusaders matched it in the third. Shannon Arthur led off with a single to right and was sacrificed up two bases on bunts by Jena Reisanauer and Brooke Baliles. She scored on a Limestone error off the bat of Carol-Anne Sherrill to knot the game at one.

The game remained a 1-1 stalemate through seven innings, sending the game to an extra frame. In the top of the eighth, Pressley entered the game for Brittany Southard and was placed on second, but she never moved from there as the Crusaders went down in order.

In the bottom of the frame, Taylor Wigmore (who, under the rule, the last out of the previous inning is placed on second) began the frame at the second sack. Erika Hansen moved her to third on a sacrifice bunt and Dallas Heaton brought her home with a single to left.

Samantha Jacobs took the loss after giving up two unearned runs on six hits in seven and one-thirds innings. She struck out two. Leah Quant fanned five and did not issue a free pass, as she gave up an unearned run on four hits.

Arthur led the Abbey with two hits. Bright and Nikki Faust had one hit each.

Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box