BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— A tight two contests fell the wrong way for the Montreat softball team Tuesday evening as the Cavaliers dropped an extra-innings affair, 11-10, in game one and a close 5-3 scoreline in game two against the Johnson University-Tennessee Royals. With the defeats at Roxy Hines Memorial Field in Black Mountain, N.C., Montreat fell to 9-30 overall and 5-15 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play for the 2023 season.
The Cavs utilized a trio of hits, including an RBI single by
Kylie Granger, to get on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second of the opening matchup. Johnson responded with two runs in the third before adding another pair in the top of the fifth to go ahead 4-1; however, in a back-and-forth contest, Montreat answered as well.
The Cavaliers scored five in the bottom of the frame highlighted by
Alyssa Hudson's 3-run home run to left center that gave the home side a 6-4 advantage. Not to be outdone, the Royals tallied six in the top of the sixth to re-take the lead at 10-6. Despite trailing, the Cavs were undeterred, plating four runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the game at 10.
Taylor Yonke cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double to right center prior to tying the competition on a wild pitch and ending a stretch of 17 combined runs over just two frames.
Although the Cavaliers battled back multiple times to force extras, the visitors claimed an 11-10 triumph thanks to a run in the eighth.
Yonke went 3-for-5 in the initial game with a team-high four RBIs, while Hudson (2-4) notched multiple hits with a trio of RBIs and Granger (3-4) collected the first 3-hit performance of her young career. All three players scored twice.
In game two, five straight Royals reached to start the contest, resulting in a 4-0 edge for JU (16-4, 11-3 AAC) after a half inning. Though the Cavaliers surrendered the early tallies, they rebounded with smart baserunning. Following a dropped third strike, Granger took home on the throw to first in the second to break the ice for the offense.
Montreat had trouble getting to the Royals' pitcher in the latter contest; however, Hudson doubled in the fourth and was promptly driven in by
Samantha Browning to make the score 4-2. Then, after a run by the visitors in the sixth, Hudson blasted her second home run in as many games down the left field line to cut the deficit to two again (5-3). In the end, 15 strikeouts stunted the comeback attempt and the Cavs fell by two.
Hudson notched two of the team's five hits, while
Leah Coffing pitched five innings in relief, surrendering only one run on five hits.
Maddox Pleasants closed out the game in the circle, going a hitless 2.0 innings to end the competition.
Softball returns to play with a doubleheader against St. Andrews on Thursday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Roxy Hines Memorial Field.
