KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— The Montreat softball team passed through Knoxville, Tenn. Saturday afternoon as it continued its 12-game road trip with an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader versus the Johnson University Royals. While the Cavaliers battled early in both contests, the hosts ultimately came away with 6-4 and 8-0 victories, dropping the visitors' record to 25-11 (7-9 AAC) on the year.
Jasmine Rachal blasted a solo shot just two batters into game one, handing the Cavs an early 1-0 edge over the Royals; however, Johnson (16-10, 15-3 AAC) answered with a 3-spot in the bottom half of the first to snatch a 3-1 advantage through one inning.
Alanna Hernandez,
Haley Fethke and
Dayton Kell each proved responsible for an RBI during the second frame as Montreat mounted a response of its own to reclaim a 1-run lead. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, that's where the offense ended as JU pitching retired the final 17 visiting batters of game one.
Victoria Alcantar held the Royals at bay into the middle stages of the opener, throwing up zeroes in the second, third and fourth innings. An unearned run allowed Johnson to tie the score at four in the bottom of the fifth, though, and a 2-RBI single up the middle during the ensuing frame put the hosts in the driver's seat. Montreat went down in order in the top of the seventh, allowing JU to win game one, 6-4.
Fethke (2-4) was the only Cav to tally multiple hits in the opener as Johnson outhit Montreat, 12-8. Four different Cavaliers drove in a run or scored once. Alcantar struck out four Royals in the defeat.
Like it did during the initial matchup, JU pitching also finished game two in strong fashion. Rachal and Fethke registered singles in the first inning, but Montreat's last 14 batters failed to reach base safely.
That work in the circle set the hosts' offense up for success as they recorded crooked numbers in the second, third and fourth. Needing just one additional run for a 5-inning triumph, the Royals delivered a walk-off single through the left side to end game two, 8-0.
The Montreat softball team remains on the road this Tuesday for a conference twin bill at Columbia International University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Columbia, S.C.
