BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat softball team played host to the Carolina University Bruins Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader at Roxy Hines Memorial Softball Field in Black Mountain, N.C. Despite playing on its home field, it was Carolina who felt right at home with a pair of 3-1 and 8-3 victories. With the defeats, the Cavaliers fell to 10-35 on the season.
 
While the Cavs had the better chances to score early on, the Bruins ultimately plated game one's initial runs. Montreat left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, and it stranded a runner at third in the third. Meanwhile, after a few quiet innings at the plate against Kyann Lyne, Carolina utilized a 2-run homer to left center to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth.
 
Montreat came back with a run in the following half-inning thanks to a pinch-hit double off the bat of Alexa Chandler and a 2-out throwing error; however, the Bruins still clung to a 2-1 advantage entering the final few frames.
 
Carolina (12-10) added an insurance run in the sixth frame behind a trio of singles as they moved in front by two (3-1). On the other side, the Cavs failed to register a hit during their final two trips to the plate, falling by a 3-1 scoreline in the process.
 
Lyne (4.0 IP, 2 R) and Kendall Rubel (3.0 IP, 1 R) combined to pitch seven innings in the circle for Montreat, while four different Cavaliers notched a hit in the contest. The Bruins outhit the Cavs in game one, 9-4.
 
The Cavs opened the scoring in game two behind a trio of hits in the bottom of the first. Montreat's initial three batters reached base safely, and Coleena Selleck drove home a pair with her 2-out double down the right field line to put the home side ahead; however, the visitors came back with a 5-spot in the following half-inning thanks to a bases-clearing double and a pair of unearned runs. Through one-and-a-half innings of action, the Bruins owned a 5-2 lead over the hosts.
 
Montreat loaded the bases for the second straight frame in the bottom of the second, and the Cavaliers got a run back when Taylor Yonke notched an RBI single up the middle, cutting the deficit to two (5-3) in the process.
 
After a scoreless third frame, Carolina put another crooked number on the board in the fourth. The visitors pushed three runs across home plate on four hits to expand their advantage out to 8-3 midway through game two.
 
While the Cavaliers didn't score during the remainder of the ballgame, they did have several chances. Montreat left the bases loaded in fifth, and it left 12 runners on base over the course of game two. Bruins pitching got key outs down the stretch, and the visitors notched an 8-3 victory as a result.
 
Deanna Waddell (1.2 IP, 2 Ks) and Leah Coffing (2.0 IP, 1 K) recorded scoreless relief appearances in the defeat. At the plate, Yonke (3-4) and Sarah Edge (2-4) combined for five of the Cavs' nine hits. Selleck led the way in game two with a pair of RBIs.
 
The Montreat softball team takes on Tennessee Wesleyan University next Wednesday, April 12 in the Cavaliers' home finale. First pitch of the Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader is set for 4:00 p.m. in Black Mountain, N.C.