BLUEFIELD, Va.— The Montreat softball team traveled on the road Monday afternoon to play an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader against the Bluefield University Rams. With 4-0 and 3-2 defeats, the Cavaliers dropped to 4-37 (2-22 AAC) on the year.
In game one, Bluefield's defense and pitching shut down the Cavs' offense. Following a base hit by
Cameryn Bass with one out in the top of the first, Montreat was held hitless until the final frame.
Katie Johnson got that base knock, but it wasn't enough to start a two-out rally in the seventh.
The Rams scored two in the initial inning before doubling their advantage with another pair in the fifth to go up 4-0.
Candace Cooper allowed just seven hits and three earned runs through five innings pitched, while
Leah Coffing came in to throw a perfect sixth; however, the offensive struggles proved too much to overcome in the four-run contest.
Bluefield (11-21, 6-18 AAC) then used a single run in each of the second, third and fourth innings of the second competition to lead 3-0. The Cavaliers threatened in the top of the second and third but left multiple runners on base without crossing as the Rams clung to their edge until late.
After a similar fifth inning, Montreat broke through in the sixth, utilizing a trio of hits to cut into its deficit. A bases-loaded single to left by
Jayda Treaster and an RBI walk by
AJ Martin Aiken scored two for the visitors; however, the Cavaliers left the bases juiced down by one.
Two two-out hits and a wild pitch put two in scoring position for the Cavs in the seventh, but the final pair of 11 stranded baserunners left the team with one less run than the Rams through the last frame. Despite the loss,
Coleena Selleck (3-4) registered three of Montreat's nine hits, while Martin Aiken (2-3) was the other Cavalier with multiple base knocks.
In the circle,
Kyann Lyne gave up just seven hits and two earned runs through four innings.
Jenae Fedewa came in for two innings, surrendering only two hits and striking out one.
Softball continues its road trip with a pair of contests at Columbia on Wednesday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.