BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat softball team hosted the Bryan College Lions in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader at Roxy Hines Memorial Softball Field Monday night. Following a 5-4 defeat in game one, the Cavaliers rebounded with a 3-1 triumph in the latter matchup to move to 27-15 (9-13 AAC) on the year. With the victory, the Cavs secured their first winning season since 2011.
The Cavaliers drew first blood in game one thanks to four consecutive reaching with two outs in the opening frame.
Haley Fethke and
Elizabeth Gergen tallied RBI singles to hand the home side a 2-0 advantage.
Despite the solid start from Montreat, Bryan (11-14, 7-9 AAC) responded immediately. The Lions utilized a walk, a groundout and a 2-RBI double to lead 4-2 in the second before another RBI hit stretched the edge to three (5-2) in the top of the third.
Victoria Alcantar got stronger in the circle as the game went on. The Apple Valley, Calif. native struck out the side twice and retired the final 10 batters she faced to hold BC at bay in her complete-game effort. Alcantar ended with a season-best 11 strikeouts in the contest.
The Cavs threatened to tie the competition and even take the lead thanks to a pair of unearned runs that crossed on a throwing error and made it 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth; however, the home team recorded just five hits and struggled to get baserunners on early in the matchup. Ultimately, the Cavaliers dropped the 1-run game.
In the second matchup, pitching dominated early.
Deanna Waddell whirled 1-2-3 frames in both the first and third innings before the Cavs broke the ice in the bottom of the third. Fethke followed a throwing error with her team-best eighth home run of the season to put Montreat up 2-0 through three. The home side then added an insurance run in the sixth thanks to Gergen's RBI single to left.
The 3-run advantage was all Waddell needed as she secured her 11
th victory of the year with a complete-game performance. Waddell, who struck out two, surrendered a lone run in the seventh and gave up eight hits. Offensively, the Lions outhit the Cavaliers 8-5, but Montreat made the most of its opportunities, going 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position compared to the visitors' 2-for-8. Fethke carried the home side with her 3-for-3 showing and pair of RBIs at the plate.
Softball now heads to Virginia for a doubleheader with the Bluefield University Rams on Wednesday. First pitch of game one at Graham Rec Park is slated for 1 p.m.
