COLUMBIA, S.C.— The Montreat softball team finished out its 2024 regular season Monday afternoon with an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) road doubleheader against the Columbia College Koalas. Following a 5-2 defeat in the opener and a 7-0 loss in game two, the Cavaliers dropped to 31-19 (11-17 AAC) on the year. As a result, Montreat fell short of qualifying for next week's AAC Tournament.
A throwing error put the visiting Cavs on top during game one's opening frame, but the hosts came right back with a 2-out RBI single in the second and a 2-out, 2-run single in the fourth to seize their initial lead of the day at 3-1.
Montreat trimmed the gap to one thanks to another error in the top of the fifth, but Columbia (24-20, 16-12 AAC) ultimately had the final say. Two additional 2-out hits plated a pair of runners in the bottom of the sixth, enabling the Koalas to claim the opener by a 5-2 final and officially eliminate the Cavaliers from conference tournament contention.
Amayia Hernandez (2-4) and
Makayla Reid (2-3) combined for four of the visitors' seven base knocks as CC outhit Montreat in game one, 10-7.
Alanna Hernandez joined
Amayia Hernandez as the lone Cavs to score in the opening defeat. Meanwhile,
Victoria Alcantar struck out four batters in the circle.
Five second-inning singles set up Columbia to push across a trio of runners in game two. Just two frames later, the Koalas tacked on a pair of unearned runs, extending their advantage to 5-0 through four.
Montreat had a runner in scoring position in each of the initial two innings, and it placed a runner on base in every frame played through three; however, the Cavaliers ultimately batted 0-for-9 with traffic on the basepaths, keeping them off the scoreboard.
The home side's pitching eventually settled in during the middle stages of the matchup, retiring eight consecutive batters from the third through sixth innings. Meanwhile, Columbia added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth before officially sealing its 7-0 shutout victory in the ensuing half inning.
Jasmine Rachal (1-2),
Leyna Gould (1-3) and
Maddox Pleasants (1-1) proved responsible for the visitors' three hits. The Koalas totaled 10 base knocks in game two.
Deanna Waddell punched out two batters during her five innings in the circle, while
Leah Coffing and Pleasants each picked up one strikeout.
The Montreat softball team concludes its regular season with a 31-19 (11-17 AAC) record, its winningest year since at least 2004.
