WEST POINT, Ga.— Starting an eight-game Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) road trip to close out the regular season, the Montreat softball team lost a pair of contests against the Point University Skyhawks in West Point, Ga. With the 10-0 five-inning defeat in game one and the 5-4 loss in game two, the Cavaliers' record fell to 4-35 (2-20 AAC).
Point (27-15, 17-7 AAC) proved to be a tough opponent in the pitcher's circle in game one, throwing a pair of 1-2-3 innings while allowing the Cavaliers to reach second base just once across five frames. The Cavaliers tallied four hits in those five innings but were never able to move a runner within 60 feet of scoring.
On the other side, the Skyhawks had a big day at the plate in the opener, scoring in the bottom half of each inning in which they batted. A three-run homer set in the tone in the first as Point scored four runs in the initial frame, a pair of runs in the second, one tally in the third and a trio of scores in the fourth to build a 10-0 lead.
The Skyhawks claimed victory in the next half-inning, retiring the Cavaliers without allowing a run.
Abigail Christopher (2-2) registered two of Montreat's four hits, while
Ashley Starnes (1-2) and
Katie Johnson (1-2) each recorded a base knock.
Montreat fell behind early in game two as well, as the Skyhawks utilized two RBI doubles to center field to establish a 2-0 lead; however, contrary to game one, the Cavaliers mustered a response in the fifth inning with one big swing.
Jayda Treaster delivered a clutch at-bat in the top of the fifth frame, crushing the first home run of her Cavalier career on a deep shot to left field. Treaster's two-run blast tied the contest up at two, but the Skyhawks had an answer waiting thanks to a pair of two-out hits.
With two outs in the fifth, the hosts plated two runs on a two-out triple to center field. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Point added an insurance run via a two-out single to center.
AJ Martin Aiken put the pressure on Point by driving in two Cavaliers on a two-out double down the left field line, but Montreat couldn't come up with the tying knock in the seventh as the hosts held on in game two, 5-4.
Jenae Fedewa threw a complete game in the effort, striking out two Skyhawks across six innings. At the plate,
Bella Colbert (2-3) and
Cameryn Bass (2-4) tallied four of Montreat's seven hits in the game-two defeat.
The Montreat softball team continues its eight-game road trip with a doubleheader on Monday at Bluefield University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Bluefield, Va.
