BELMONT, N.C. - Melissa Neyhouse went a combined 3-for-6 against the Lees-McRae Bobcats this afternoon, as the teams split the doubleheader by scores of 5-3 and 2-1.  The Abbey now stands at 11-25 in 2018, including a 4-6 Conference Carolinas record.  Lees-McRae is now 8-16 overall, with a 3-1 conference record.

In game 1, Lees-McRae scored first.  In the third inning, however, Alexis Rogers and Brooke Pegram hit back-to-back singles to start the inning.  Anna Mixa singled to left field to bring them both home, and put the Crusaders in front 2-1.

Lees-McRae brought four runs across in the top of the six.  The Abbey was unable to get on base after that, and the Bobcats took game 1 by a score of 5-3.  Rogers went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

The second game was a defensive grind, as neither team scored a run through the first three innings.  Then Anna Mixa homered to left center to start the bottom of the fourth.  In the next inning, a double by Neyhouse advanced Rogers to third with two outs.  Mixa drew a walk to load the bases before Peyton Wilson was hit by a pitch to score Alexis Pereiro.

The Abbey defense continued to keep Lees-McRae off base until the seventh inning, when the Bobcats hit a homerun to score their first run of the game.  It was the only run the Crusaders gave up, finishing with the 2-1 victory.  Ivorie Maltby threw a complete game for the win.  She gave up just five hits and one walk.

On the day, Neyhouse led the offensive efforts with her 3-for-6 performance, with an RBI.

Belmont Abbey will welcome the Mount Olive Trojans tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.