BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat softball team continued conference play with an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader versus the University of Pikeville Bears at Roxy Hines Memorial Softball Field on Good Friday. Thanks to a 6-0 one-hit shutout in game one and an 8-2 triumph in the second competition, the Cavaliers moved to 22-6 overall and 7-5 in AAC action. The 22 wins mark the most for the program since the 2011 season.
 
Pitching dominated early in game one as neither side notched a hit until the third frame. A walk coupled with a double from Amayia Hernandez set the table for a pair of RBI bunts as Jasmine Rachal laid down a sacrifice and Haley Fethke reached on a bunt single to make it 2-0 in the bottom of the third.
 
Following a double steal that scored Alanna Hernandez in the fourth, the Cavs plated three in the fifth to put the contest out of reach. An RBI groundout from Dayton Kell and a throwing error extended the gap to 5-0 before Sage Dowis' first hit of the year, an RBI single to left center, closed out the scoring. Offensively, Fethke (2-3) finished with multiple hits and six different Montreat players scored a run.
 
In the circle, Victoria Alcantar threw a gem for the Cavaliers, surrendering only a sole hit through her seven innings. Needing just 82 pitches for her complete-game shutout, Alcantar fanned five and walked a mere one batter, facing two over the minimum in her dominant effort. With the 6-0 decision, the Apple Valley, Calif. native improved to 10-2 on the season.
 
Montreat wasted no time jumping out to an advantage in the latter matchup, utilizing a 2-RBI double from Fethke and a sacrifice bunt with an error to lead 3-0 through one frame. In the third, Fethke then added to the edge with a solo shot to left, her team-best fifth homer of the year, before a sacrifice bunt from Dowis made it 5-0.
 
Pikeville (11-12, 7-7 AAC) responded with a run in the ensuing half inning; however, the Cavs answered with three more in the bottom of the fourth. Fethke, who ended the game with five RBIs, continued her massive day with another pair of runs driven in due to her third extra-base knock of the contest. Kell then wrapped up the scoring for the home side with a sacrifice fly as Montreat led 8-1.
 
Though the Cavaliers allowed a run in the final inning, the home side's defense held on for its second 6-run triumph of the day. Deanna Waddell tossed six innings in the circle, giving up only three hits and an unearned run as she improved to 10-2 on the season. Leah Coffing sealed the win with a relief inning.
 
Fethke (3-4) scored three times, while Amayia Hernandez crossed home twice. Kell (2) joined Fethke with multiple RBIs.

"It's nice to have gotten off to such a great start to the season, but we still have a long way to go. I was happy with our effort today and I'm looking forward to getting back at it tomorrow," mentioned head coach Corbin Weeks.
 
Softball now makes the short trip to Mars Hill, N.C. for a non-conference twin bill against the Mars Hill University Lions tomorrow at 12 p.m.