CLEVELAND, Ga.— In a chaotic road doubleheader against the Truett McConnell University Bears, the Montreat softball team couldn't quite find an ultimate answer for the home team as the Cavaliers dropped both games of the twin bill by scores of 7-4 and 9-5, respectively. With the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) results, the Cavs moved to 5-14 on the season and 1-7 in conference play.
In game one, the Cavaliers struck first thanks to a trio of errors by the Bears in the top of the fourth inning before a walk and an error set the table for a sacrifice bunt off the bat of
Katie Johnson that gave Montreat a 2-0 edge in the fifth.
TMU (8-2, 2-0 AAC) then put a crooked number up in the bottom of the frame, scoring six to lead by four. The first three Cavs reached in the sixth thanks to a pair of hits and an error, which culminated in one run crossing prior to another sac bunt situation by
Bella Colbert that plated Montreat's fourth run of the contest.
Despite the late charge, the Bears answered with an insurance score in the latter half of the inning to secure a 7-4 victory over the Cavaliers. The teams combined for nine errors, while the home side outhit the Cavs 8-3 in the ballgame.
Two early hits and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Montreat to start game two, and the visitors capitalized due to an RBI groundout by
Coleena Selleck to lead 1-0. TMU responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the opening frame; however, a Bears miscue and a sacrifice fly by Colbert gave the Cavs a 2-run advantage through the top of the third.
The score in the third started a string of four consecutive half-innings in which the squads notched runs as Truett McConnell registered one in the home-half of the third before Johnson reestablished the 2-run lead (4-2) with another sacrifice fly. The Bears then took control of the matchup in the ensuing at-bat, plating seven runs on as many hits and one error in the bottom of the fourth to go up 9-4.
Though
Cameryn Bass used the final hit of her 3-for-4 day at the plate to drive in
Keelie Mauk in the sixth, TMU sealed the doubleheader sweep by limiting Montreat's offense the rest of the way. Bass and Mauk both scored twice, while Gould (2-2) and Mauk (2-2) joined Bass with multiple hits.
Maddox Pleasants pitched two-and-a-third scoreless innings in relief, surrendering only two hits in the process.
Softball continues its road trip at Reinhardt University on Saturday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
