BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— For the first time in exactly one month, the Montreat softball team returned to Roxy Hines Softball Field to host an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader. Playing the Brenau University Golden Tigers twice on Tuesday, the Cavaliers took both matchups by scores of 7-2 and 6-5. With the victories, Montreat climbed to 23-11 (11-5 AAC) on the year.
Brenau (24-9, 13-5 AAC) opened the twin bill with a 1-0 lead thanks to an unearned run in the top of the first; however, that proved to be all the visitors could muster against
Rebecca Carson until the final frame.
Maggie Knight put the hosts on the scoreboard during the third via an RBI single. The Robbinsville, N.C. native then handed the Cavs a 2-1 advantage when she drove in
Hollie Cunningham with her fifth-inning double down the right field line.
A five-run sixth blew the initial matchup wide open in Montreat's favor. Five different Cavaliers—
Amariya Miller,
Alanna Hernandez,
Haley Fethke, Knight and
Jasmine Rachal—notched an RBI in the frame, and the home side suddenly held a 7-1 edge with merely an inning to go.
Carson had no issue closing out her eighth win of the campaign. The junior tossed a complete game, surrendering merely five hits and two unearned runs. Carson also struck out a pair, and Montreat claimed the opener, 7-2.
The Cavs racked up twice as many hits as their counterparts in game one (10-5).
Abigail Wyatt and Knight recorded two knocks each, while Knight's three RBIs led the way in the run production department. Seven different Cavaliers scored a run during the initial triumph.
Looking to bounce back, Brenau plated a trio of runs before the Cavs came to the plate in game two. Rachal helped slow the visitors' momentum, though, getting one of those runs back on an RBI single to right during the ensuing half inning.
Knight's RBI base hit coupled with
Dayton Kell's sacrifice fly allowed the hosts to knot the score at 3-3 through three. Fethke later moved Montreat in front, 4-3, with her bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the fourth.
The Golden Tigers didn't give up, and it momentarily paid dividends with the game-tying run in the top of the sixth. Brenau couldn't keep the Cavaliers off the scoreboard, though.
Amayia Hernandez lined a sac fly to left, and a throwing error scored an additional baserunner. That sixth run proved to be crucial as the visitors answered with one in the seventh.
Victoria Alcantar secured her NAIA-leading seventh save of the season, and the Cavs swept Brenau for the first time since 2018. The Cavaliers also bagged their fourth consecutive AAC doubleheader behind the 6-5 win.
Carter Thornton started in the circle and captured her sixth victory of 2025. The Downey, Idaho native punched out a pair while allowing three earned runs across her six frames of work.
Both Wyatt and Rachal went 3-for-4 in game two, and Wyatt paced the squad with two runs scored. Montreat's five RBIs came from five separate batters. Knight walked twice, and
Hannah Henderson walked once.
"I've been really pleased with the way we've battled and competed as a team," said head coach
Corbin Weeks. "We're playing good softball right now, but we need to keep this level of focus and determination if we want to continue to play well through the weeks ahead."
Montreat is back at home on Saturday for another conference twin bill, this time versus Columbia College. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. in Black Mountain, N.C.
