BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey softball team earned a fourth straight doubleheader split in Conference Carolinas play with its latest coming Friday afternoon at Lees-McRae.
The Crusaders fell 9-3 in the opening game before bouncing back with a 9-5 extra-inning victory over the Bobcats to close the day.
Hallie Mele led the way offensively with five hits on the day, including a home run while
Adison Yoder earned a complete game win in the nightcap.
Belmont Abbey finishes the day with a 9-15 overall record and a 4-4 mark in Conference Carolinas play. The Bobcats are 14-10 overall, 3-1 in the league.
GAME 1
- The Bobcats got off to a fast start in the opener scoring seven runs over the first three innings.
- Belmont Abbey cut into the deficit in the fourth with a leadoff home run by Mackenzie Allison. It was the third straight game that the junior has hit a home run.
- That was followed later in the inning with a two-run home run from Mele.
- Megan Powell earned the complete-game win for the Bobcats while Alannah Browne (3-10) took the loss.
GAME 2
- The Bobcats got the two first runs of the game with runs in the first and fourth innings, respectively.
- Belmont Abbey got on the board in a big way in the fifth with a grand slam by Mackenzie Sprinkle after the inning got started with Ruthie Allen reaching on an error to make it 4-2.
- Lees-McRae came back to tie the game with solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
- The Crusaders turned an inning-ending double play to keep the game alive in the eighth inning.
- Mele's single in the ninth put Belmont Abbey ahead for good and the Crusaders got four more runs thanks to a two-run single by Allison and a two-run home run by Trinity Wall.
- The Bobcats got a run across in the ninth but Belmont Abbey was able to close the game out and take the win.
- Yoder struck out three on 132 pitches in the win.
UP NEXT
The road trip continues with a doubleheader at King Saturday in Bristol, Tennessee.
The doubleheader with the Tornado is scheduled for a noon start.
