JACKSONVILLE, Fla.— Playing on Monday afternoon in the first of two doubleheaders in Jacksonville, Fla., the Montreat softball team lost both games of a non-conference doubleheader against the Edward Waters University Tigers. The 6-0 defeat in game one followed by the 5-2 loss in game two dropped the Cavaliers to 3-16 on the year.
AJ Martin Aiken and
Cameryn Bass reached base safely to open game one, but a double play and a line out quickly ended the Cavaliers threat. Meanwhile, in the bottom of the first inning, the Tigers capitalized with a pair of runners on base thanks to a two-RBI double to left field.
After giving up two runs in first inning,
Leah Coffing found a groove for Montreat in the pitcher's circle. The Tigers found their way on base just two times, once via hit by pitch and the other on a double, between the second and fourth innings. Over that same span, Coffing struck out a pair of EWU batters.
Edward Waters (16-5) did find its way back onto the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, a sacrifice fly to center field pushed the Tigers' advantage up to three runs. Then, in the sixth, an RBI double and a two-run single expanded the home team's lead out to 6-0.
Montreat couldn't piece together a rally in the seventh inning, recording three total hits in the contest en route to a 6-0 defeat in game one.
Bella Colbert (2-2) tallied two of those base knocks with a single in the third and a double in the fifth. In the pitcher's circle,
Deanna Waddell struck out the side in an inning of relief.
Game two featured the Cavaliers scoring first, with the visitors putting up a run in both the second and third innings.
Savannah Pruitt, Colbert and
Coleena Selleck all singled with one out in the second frame, and a wild pitch gave the Cavs their first run of the day. In the third inning,
Ashley Starnes clobbered a one-out double to center field before coming around to score on a Colbert groundout.
Trailing 2-0, Edward Waters found its first breakthrough of game two in the bottom of the third. Responding to the Cavaliers run in the half-inning prior, the hosts utilized two run-producing hits to halve their deficit to 2-1 before suddenly taking the lead at 3-2.
The Tigers' pitching staff impressed throughout the doubleheader, limiting the number of Montreat baserunners and recording key outs when necessary. Edward Waters held the Cavaliers scoreless throughout the remainder of game two while adding two insurance runs in the fifth on a bases-loaded single to right center.
Ultimately, the hosts took game two over the Cavaliers by a score of 5-2.
The Montreat softball team plays two more games on Tuesday at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Fla. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
