BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— The Montreat softball team continued its eight-game homestand Saturday afternoon with a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchups versus the Truett McConnell University Bears. Despite being shorthanded due to an illness passing through the program, the Cavaliers nearly came away with their first win over TMU since 2014. In the end, the Bears dropped the Cavs to 9-9 (2-4 AAC) with 6-4 and 12-8 scorelines.
A double and a sacrifice fly had Truett McConnell (11-5, 2-0 AAC) out in front during the top of the second inning; however, Montreat slowly erased its 2-0 deficit with a run across three separate frames.
Nevaeh Rivera pulled the hosts within one via her RBI single to left center in the bottom of the second.
Abigail Wyatt then notched a run-producing double in the third, leveling the score at 2-2.
Jasmine Rachal tacked on a sac fly in the fifth that put the Cavaliers on top, 3-2.
Two swings of the bat flipped game one in the visitors' favor. During the top of the sixth, a single down the right field line evened the matchup at 3-3. The ensuing batter crushed a go-ahead three-run shot to center, delivering what ultimately was the game-winning knock for the Bears. Rachal added another run in the bottom of the seventh, but the damage was done as TMU claimed the opener, 6-4.
Rebecca Carson,
Jaidyn Stephens and
Mykenzie Flores each recorded a strikeout in the circle. Flores was the lone Montreat pitcher to hold the opposition scoreless, doing so over 1 2/3 innings. Offensively,
Amayia Hernandez (3), Wyatt (2) and Rachal (2) combined for seven of the hosts' 11 hits.
The Cavs got off to a great start in game two, leading 5-0 after just two frames of play.
Haley Fethke and Rachal vaulted the home side out to a 2-0 lead in the first, while Wyatt, a wild pitch and Rachal's bases-loaded hit-by-pitch expanded the advantage to five runs.
Despite the large early deficit, Truett McConnell didn't panic. Three straight innings of offensive production, including an eight-spot in the top of the fifth, saw the Bears rattle off 12 consecutive runs.
Montreat attempted a comeback, plating three runs to trim the gap down to 12-8; however, the margin proved to be too sizable, and TMU wrapped up its doubleheader sweep with a four-run victory.
Wyatt and Rachal were never retired during the second matchup, with the former tallying four hits and three runs and the latter accumulating three knocks and three RBIs. The Cavaliers' lone scoreless outing in game two came from
Olivia Bezjak, who tossed two shutout frames while surrendering two hits.
Montreat returns to Roxy Hines Softball Field on Tuesday for more AAC play. First pitch of a doubleheader between the Cavs and the Johnson University Royals is slated for 3 p.m.
