BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat softball team played two tight Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contests against the Brenau University Golden Tigers on Sunday afternoon, with both games coming down to the final inning. Ultimately, the Cavaliers came up just short in both games, dropping a 7-5 decision in game one before falling in extra innings in game two, 10-5. With the defeats in Black Mountain, N.C., the Cavs are now 4-31 (2-16 AAC) this season.
 
Montreat got off to a fast start in the opener, scoring a run in each of the first three innings. In the bottom of the first, Ashley Starnes ripped a double to left center, scoring Cameryn Bass in the process. Meanwhile, in the second frame, Alyssa Hudson turned on a ball and smoked a solo home run down the left field line to make it 2-0 Cavaliers. Lastly, Abigail Christopher slapped an RBI double to right center in the third, putting Montreat up 3-0 through three.
 
Candace Cooper was on the top of her game early in Sunday's first contest, pitching 3.1 perfect innings before allowing her first baserunner. Cooper ultimately pitched 5.2 innings in her ninth start of the season, surrendering three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
 
Brenau (23-8, 16-4 AAC) scored all seven of its runs in the final two innings of play, plating four in the sixth to take the lead and pushing three crucial insurance runs across in the seventh to build a 7-3 advantage.
 
The Cavaliers pushed the Golden Tigers in the final half-inning, scoring two runs on a Bass single to halve their deficit; however, despite bringing the go-ahead run to the plate, Montreat couldn't come up with one more base knock to tie the game, dropping game one by a 7-5 scoreline.
 
Starnes (3-4) was one of six Cavaliers to record a hit in game one, but the only Montreat batter to tally multiple base knocks. Bass recorded two RBIs, while Starnes, Christopher and Hudson each registered one RBI.
 
Montreat started game two in similar fashion to game one, scoring a single run across several early frames. This time, the Cavs scored in each of the first four frames, off-setting a second-inning score by Brenau to lead 4-1 through four.
 
In the first inning, Starnes doubled to left center, driving in AJ Martin Aiken to open the scoring account for game two. After Brenau tied the game at one, Bella Colbert drove a single to right field, putting the Cavs back up by one. In the third, it was Christopher who singled up the middle, scoring Jayda Treaster to double the Montreat lead. Lastly, in the fourth frame, Allison Chapman crushed a double to deep left center, scoring Coleena Selleck and putting the Cavs up 4-1 in the process.
 
Kyann Lyne followed Cooper's lead with a strong showing in the pitcher's circle early on. Lyne allowed just one run through her first four frames and pitched 7.2 innings in the effort.
 
Brenau started to get the offense clicking in the fifth inning, pulling two runs back with one swing of the bat. A two-run blast to left inched the Golden Tigers to within 4-3 through five, and an RBI infield single knotted the contest at four in the top of the sixth.
 
The Golden Tigers seized their first lead of game two in the seventh, capitalizing on a bloop single to shallow left field to drive in the go-ahead run. Montreat came up with clutch at-bats in the bottom half of the inning, however, tallying three hits and two walks, including a bases-loaded walk by Selleck, to tie the ballgame and force extras.
 
Brenau scored for the fourth consecutive inning by plating five runs in the eighth. Meanwhile, Cavaliers didn't score in the bottom of the frame, falling in eight innings to the visitors from Gainesville, Ga., 10-5.
 
Eight of Montreat's nine starters recorded at least one hit in game two, with Christopher (2-4) leading the way with her pair of base knocks.
 
The Montreat softball team hosts its final scheduled home games of the 2022 season on Tuesday when the Bryan College Lions come to Black Mountain, N.C. Game one of the doubleheader is set to start at 4:00 p.m.