BLUEFIELD, Va. — The Montreat College softball team dropped an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader to Bluefield University on Tuesday afternoon, falling 10-2 in five innings in game one before suffering a 6-5 extra-innings defeat in game two. With the results, the Cavaliers moved to 11-13 (3-7 AAC), while the Rams improved to 4-24 (3-11 AAC).
Bluefield seized early momentum in the opening contest despite Montreat striking first. Nadilyn Eason launched a solo home run to center field in the top of the first inning to give the Cavs a swift advantage. However, the Rams responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame, all of which were unearned, to take a 3-1 lead.
The hosts continued to build their cushion in the second inning, utilizing a three-run homer to extend their advantage out to 6-1. After the visitors were held scoreless in the third, Bluefield added another run on an RBI triple to right center, pushing the margin to 7-1.
Montreat managed to scratch across a run in the fifth frame as Aaliyah Penalber, who reached on a single, came around to score on a wild pitch. Despite the effort, BU answered with three more runs during the ensuing half inning, highlighted by a walk-off, two-run double, to secure a 10-2 run-rule victory.
Mykenzie Flores made the start in the circle for the Cavaliers in game one, tossing three frames while allowing seven runs, four earned, on seven hits. She also tallied four strikeouts and two walks. Olivia Bezjak entered in relief and pitched 1 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Eason led the Montreat offense with a home run and a double, notching the squad's lone RBI in the process. Penalber and Jasmine Rachal each added a hit, while Penalber also scored once.
Game two proved to be a tightly contested affair. The Cavs opened the scoring in the first inning as Penalber doubled to right field and later came home on a sacrifice fly from Nevaeh Rivera.
Bluefield responded in the second inning with an RBI single to even the score at 1-1. The Cavaliers then regained control in the fourth, as Rachal and Amariya Miller drew walks to set the table. Lauren Davis followed with an RBI single before Penalber added another run with a base hit. Eason later worked a bases-loaded walk to expand the lead up to 4-1.
After BU scored on an error in the bottom of the fourth, Davis restored the visitors' three-run advantage in the top of the fifth. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native blasted a solo shot over the left field fence, bringing the scoreline to 5-2 in Montreat's favor.
The Rams mounted a late rally in the seventh inning, scoring three unearned runs, including a two-run homer, to tie the contest at 5-5 and force extras.
After a scoreless stretch into the tenth, Bluefield delivered the decisive blow in the bottom half of the frame with a sacrifice fly. The productive out sent home the winning run, completing the hosts' 6-5 comeback victory.
Lauryn Bishop turned in a strong outing in the circle, throwing 9 2/3 innings while allowing six hits and just one earned run. She struck out three batters and walked one. Defensively, the Cavs were credited with five errors in game two.
Penalber paced the Cavaliers offensively with four hits and an RBI. Davis recorded three knocks, including a home run, scored twice and drove in two runs. Eason added an RBI and a hit, while Addison Staton registered a double as one of her two knocks. The visitors' outpaced the hosts, 12-6, in the hit column for game two.
Montreat returns to action on Thursday, March 26, when it travels to Gainesville, Ga., to face off against Brenau University. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 4 p.m.
