BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat softball team hosted the Kentucky Christian University Knights in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader on Saturday, dropping game one by a 4-0 score line while bouncing back to take game two by an 8-5 score. With the split, the Cavaliers claimed their first AAC win of the season and improved to 2-13 (1-3 AAC).
 
Both pitchers were on the top of their game through the first three innings of game one. Candace Cooper pitched a perfect first inning and allowed just one baserunner in both the second and third innings on a walk and a single, respectively. On the other side, AJ Martin Aiken's leadoff single in the first was Montreat's only baserunner through 4.1 innings.
 
The fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Knights took advantage of an error and a walk to drive in runs on a two-RBI homer and an RBI double. KCU later added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning to lead Montreat by four runs (4-0).
 
Montreat threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning after Martin Aiken drew a one-out walk and Cameryn Bass moved her to third with a double down the left field line. Despite having two runners in scoring position with one out, the Cavaliers couldn't capitalize. Montreat failed to manufacture a run in the seventh inning as well, going 1-2-3 to close out a 4-0 KCU win in game one.
 
Martin Aiken (1-2), Bass (1-3) and Katie Johnson (1-3) recorded Montreat's three hits in game one. Leah Coffing pitched 3.1 hitless innings in relief, striking out one batter while allowing just a single walk and an unearned run.
 
Kentucky Christian (3-9, 2-6 AAC) loaded the bases in the first inning of game two, while the Cavaliers got two runners aboard. Despite the five combined baserunners in the inning, neither team pushed a run across in game two's initial frame.
 
The Cavaliers struck first in the second inning with a trio of productive one-out at-bats. Coleena Selleck got the rally started with a single, and then Alyssa Hudson immediately drove her in by lining a triple to center. Isabella Colbert followed Hudson's RBI with a run-producing plate appearance as well, lofting a fly ball into left field for a sacrifice fly to hand Montreat a 2-0 lead through two innings.
 
Montreat's lead didn't last long, however, as the Knights landed a blow on a two-out grand slam in the top of the third.
 
The Cavaliers flipped the script in the fifth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and pushing six runs across to suddenly turn a 4-2 deficit into an 8-4 lead. Back-to-back singles to right field by Selleck and Hudson started off the rally, while a throwing error scored the first run of the inning. Then, Allison Chapman delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to knot the contest at four. After Leyna Gould earned an RBI on a bases-loaded walk, Ashley Starnes drove in a pair of key insurance runs on a single with the bases juiced to push the Montreat lead to three. The Cavaliers tacked on their final run of the inning via a Johnson double, seizing an 8-4 lead with just two frames to play.
 
Coffing, who followed up her masterful relief appearance in game one with a stellar 4.1 innings in game two, gave up just a solo shot in the seventh inning as she shut down the Knights and closed out the 8-5 victory.
 
Ten different Cavaliers reached base safely in game two, with eight registering at least one hit and five tallying at least two hits. Six Cavaliers drove in a run in the win, with Starnes being the only Cavalier to knock in multiple baserunners. Martin Aiken (3-4) was the only Montreat batter to record more than two hits.
 
The Montreat softball teams plays its third doubleheader in four days when it hosts the University of Pikeville on Sunday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Black Mountain, N.C.