GAINESVILLE, Ga.— The Montreat softball team continued its road trip with an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader against the Brenau University Golden Tigers Tuesday afternoon. With a close 4-3 defeat in game one and a 5-inning shortened 10-2 result in game two, Montreat dropped to a 25-9 (7-7 AAC) record for its 2024 campaign.
Brenau (17-11, 10-6 AAC) scratched across a pair of unearned runs to lead 2-0 early in the initial competition before adding another two in the second as the home side extended its advantage to four runs.
Despite base hits in each of the first three times at the plate, the Cavs failed to score until late in the matchup.
Amayia Hernandez got the scoring started in the top of the fifth thanks to her RBI double. Then
Alanna Hernandez notched a 2-RBI double in the top of the sixth that trimmed the deficit to a single run (4-3). Although Montreat outhit the Golden Tigers 10-6 and put the tying run on base in the seventh, it couldn't push across the final baserunner to complete the rally.
In the circle,
Victoria Alcantar tossed a complete game, pitching six frames and allowing just six hits. Offensively, four batters registered multiple hits, led by
Alanna Hernandez, who finished 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Amayia Hernandez (2-4),
Jasmine Rachal (2-4) and
Elizabeth Gergen (2-3) also produced multi-hit efforts in the loss.
Haley Fethke opened the scoring in the second matchup, delivering an RBI triple to left center that broke the deadlock in the opening half inning. After Brenau leveled the score in the second, a bunt single from
Makayla Reid pushed the Cavaliers back ahead 2-1 in the third.
Although the Cavs grabbed the 1-run advantage, the hosts wrapped up the competition with nine unanswered runs. The Golden Tigers plated a pair in the third and then closed out the game with a 7-spot thanks to four hits and three errors in the bottom of the fifth.
Amayia Hernandez (1-3), Fethke (1-2) and Reid (1-2) combined for the visitors' three hits in game two.
Softball remains on the road for its next twin bill, a doubleheader at Johnson University in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for 2 p.m.
