BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— In two Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contests at Roxy Hines Field Saturday afternoon, the Montreat softball team succumbed to the Union College Bulldogs, dropping 5-4 and 2-0 competitions. With the results, the Cavs moved to 4-29 (2-14 AAC) on the season.
In the first matchup, Union (13-15, 10-6 AAC) batted around and plated a trio of runs on four hits and two stolen bases in the top of the first, but the Cavaliers would look to rally.
Jenae Fedewa settled down in the circle for the Cavs, allowing only one baserunner in both the second and third innings before retiring eight consecutive Bulldog batters from the end of the third through the fifth. Fedewa pitched a complete game, surrendering five runs, four earned, while fanning two.
Montreat rallied to tie the contest with three runs in the third. An
Alyssa Hudson triple started the inning as the first four Cavaliers reached base safely via hits.
Jayda Treaster,
Candace Cooper and
AJ Martin Aiken notched hits, while
Ashley Starnes registered an RBI groundout to knot the contest at three.
Runs in the sixth and seventh enabled the visitors to take a 5-3 advantage heading into the final half-inning. The Cavs started the seventh frame hot at the plate thanks to Treaster and Cooper before Martin Aiken doubled home Treaster to make it a one-run game. With two on and no outs, Montreat's outlook was promising; however, two baserunners were thrown out at the plate to end the matchup 5-4 in favor of the visitors.
Hudson (2-3), Treaster (2-3) and Martin Aiken (2-4) finished the contest with multiple hits for the home team, who had six players record a base knock.
Game two featured a low-scoring affair as both teams' pitchers controlled the majority of the ballgame.
Leah Coffing got the start in the second contest, throwing a complete-game effort. The freshman allowed only one run on a solo shot in the second inning until giving up one more in the sixth. Coffing held Union to eight hits and limited damage in several frames while striking out a pair of Bulldogs.
After UC got on the board in the second, Montreat had a chance to answer but left the bases loaded following singles by
Katie Johnson and Treaster. The Cavaliers went quietly in the ensuing four innings, going hitless until the bottom of the seventh. In the last frame, Cooper's two-out single up the middle wasn't enough to start a rally as the Cavs dropped the 2-0 competition.
Softball now faces Brenau University in a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
