BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— Montreat's softball team played the Columbia College Koalas at Roxy Hines Softball Field in Black Mountain, N.C. for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader on Saturday. The Cavs split the twin bill after losing the first game, 2-0. The Cavs captured the second matchup by a score of 1-0.
In the opening contest, both teams were held scoreless for four innings. The Koalas (16-22, 11-11 AAC) scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning that proved to be the winning runs. Montreat accrued just three hits in the game.
Abigail Wyatt,
Amayia Hernandez and
Jasmine Rachal had the knocks. The Koalas won the first game, 2-0.
In the circle for the Cavs,
Rebecca Carson got the nod and went five innings. She gave up six hits and two runs. She walked one batter and struck one out as well.
Mykenzie Flores took her spot in the sixth inning and finished the game. She surrendered just one hit during her performance.
Game two was eerily similar to the first as both teams were held scoreless for five innings. But, to start the bottom of the sixth, Hernandez smashed a triple into the left center gap. Montreat (24-12, 12-6 AAC) took the lead with the very next batter.
Maggie Knight hit a popup to the shortstop that was far enough out to allow Hernandez to sprint home. The fielder made the play running away from the dish, making the throw late as Hernandez slid in safely.
Carter Thornton started game two and went for six complete frames. She gave up four hits and no runs in the closing competition. Thornton struck out three batters. In the seventh,
Victoria Alcantar came in and slammed the door on the Koalas. Alcantar struck out one in her performance, giving up just one hit. With the win, Thornton moved to 7-4, and Alcantar collected her NAIA-leading eighth save.
Individually, Hernandez and Wyatt each had two hits. Rachal and
Haley Fethke had the others. Knight was the only Cavalier with an RBI, and Fethke was the only Cav with a stolen base.
As a team, the Cavs scored just one run from six hits on the day. The Cavs registered two extra-base hits in game two, the biggest of which was the Hernandez triple. Montreat had 42 at-bats in the doubleheader. They struck out 10 times, nine of which occurred in the first game. Montreat walked five times and left 10 runners on base.
Up next, the Cavaliers will travel to Dayton, Tenn. on Tuesday to face the Bryan College Lions in another AAC twin bill. The doubleheader is scheduled for 4 and 6 p.m.
