BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat softball team began a six-game homestand in Black Mountain, N.C. on Tuesday afternoon by facing the Columbia International University Rams at Roxy Hines Softball Field. Despite their perseverance in both games, that Cavaliers came up short in game one, 7-2, before falling in a six-inning clash in game two, 13-4. With the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) defeats, the Cavs now sit at 4-21 (2-6 AAC).
 
Montreat took an early lead on the visitors in game one by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. After AJ Martin Aiken and Cameryn Bass reached safely to lead off the inning, Ashley Starnes and Ashley Steadman each drove in a run on singles to right center to give the Cavaliers an early 2-0 start.
 
Despite finding itself in an early hole, Columbia International didn't trail for long. Aided by a pair of Montreat errors, the Rams tied the contest up at two with a pair of runs in the second.
 
Columbia International (13-16-1, 4-4 AAC) took the lead with two more runs in the second inning, and a trio of runs in the third pushed the Rams' advantage out to 7-2.
 
The Cavaliers had a few of opportunities to cut into their five-run deficit in game one, most notably in the fourth and fifth frames. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but a pop up to short ended that rally. Then, in the fifth, CIU stranded two Montreat runners to preserve their 7-2 lead.
 
Ultimately, neither side could push any more runs across in game one as the Rams wrapped up the contest with a five-run win.
 
Coleena Selleck (3-3) and Starnes (2-4) had multiple hits in the game one loss, while Alexa Chandler, Jayda Treaster, Bass and Steadman each recorded a base knock. In the pitcher's circle, Candace Cooper pitched four innings in relief, giving up just four hits and two unearned runs while striking out three.
 
CIU burst out of the gates in game two, with eight of its first nine batters reaching base safely in the contest's initial inning. Against three Montreat pitchers, the Rams plated seven runs and placed themselves in the driver's seat from the get-go.
 
After an additional run in the third and a trio of scores in the top of the fifth inning, the Cavaliers needed to score at least four runs to avoid the five-inning run rule. Montreat scored exactly that when batting in the frame.
 
Selleck drove in the Cavaliers' first run of game two on a single to center field, scoring Keelie Mauk. Steadman produced a run on a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 11-2, and a fielder's choice followed by a Bella Colbert double kept the Cavaliers alive with an 11-4 scoreline entering the sixth.
 
The visitors were determined to wrap up the contest early, however, and they pushed another two runs across in the sixth while simultaneously shutting the Cavaliers down in the bottom of the frame. Columbia International claimed game two from the Cavaliers in six innings, 13-4, sweeping the doubleheader in the process.
 
Of the nine Montreat hits in game two, Martin Aiken (3-3) and Colbert (2-3) registered the only multi-hit outings.
 
The Montreat softball team continues its homestand with a Sunday-afternoon doubleheader against Reinhardt University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.