Softball Ends Phoenix Clash with Decisive 8-3 Win Over Bucknell
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After dropping the first game of the day to James Madison, 4-0, the Presbyterian College softball team used two home runs by Leslie Hensley to earn a decisive 8-3 win over Bucknell in the second game at the Phoenix Softball Clash held Feb. 17-18 in Elon College, N.C.
PC improved to 2-3 after going 1-2 in tournament play this weekend.
JMU 2, PC 0
James Madison scored first with a run in the bottom of the second. After the first two batters went down in order, Megan Shinaberry singled to centerfield and came home off a Cassidy Clayton RBI double to the same spot, for the eventual game-winner. The next batter grounded out to the pitcher but the damage was done as the Dukes took the 1-0 lead.
After PC went scoreless in the top of the third, JMU tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the inning.
The Dukes scored again in the bottom of the sixth inning when Caitlen Manning homered to left field to give JMU the final 4-0 win.
Cat Tarvin led the Blue Hose, posting three of the team's five hits and reaching third twice. Hensley picked up the loss, pitching a complete game and giving up four earned runs off nine hits. She had four strikeouts and walked just one.
Manning led JMU with two RBI off a two-for-three effort at the plate. Sarah Mooney garnered the win, scattering five hits and striking out nine.
PC 8, Bucknell 3
PC began the second game against Bucknell with a strikeout, but responded with a single by Shelby Petik and a RBI triple by Tarvin, who came home herself off a RBI bunt by Morgan Durham the next at-bat. Durham turned around and stole second and third base to set up her score off a passed ball that gave the Blue Hose the 3-0 lead early in the game.
Bucknell answered in the bottom of the first with two runs of its own to make it a 2-3 game after one. The Bison lined toe second for the first out but Cydnee Sanders reached next on a PC error and took second on a passed ball. Mallory Lyons walked and after another passed ball, Bucknell had runners on second and third.
The bases were loaded up off a single by Kristen Zahn, with the first running coming home off walk. Bridget Gates singled the next at bat to drive in the second run. Kensley Loudermelk rebounded with two strike outs to end the inning with the bases loaded for Bucknell.
Hensley drove the ball over the left field with one out in the top of the second, her first of the season and 10th of her career, to give the Blue Hose a two-run cushion, 4-2.
Four innings later Hensley sealed the win with a three-run home run to make it 7-2. After Lyndsey York led off the sixth with a single to left field, she was followed by Courtney Lawton who was hit by a pitch. Hensley stepped up to the plate and took the first pitch over the center field wall for a three-RBI shot.
PC tacked on an eighth run in the top of the seventh after Durham opened the inning with a single and advanced to second the next at bat off a throwing error by Bucknell. She reached third on a wild pitch and came home off a Tricia Hood single up the middle.
Bucknell rallied in the bottom of the seventh, loading up the bases with no outs and bringing in the third run off a PC fielding error, its fifth of the game. Loudermilk struck out the two of the next three batters to preserve the win, however.
Hensley was the player of the game, going two-for-three with two runs scored, four RBI and two home runs. Tarvin and Durham were both two-for-four with one RBI each.
PC pounded out 14 hits, with three doubles and two home runs. Loudermelk scattered three runs off four hits with seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings for her first win of the year.
Bridget Gates took the loss for Bucknell, giving up five earned runs off 10 hits in 3.1 innings. Gates led offensively, going one-for-two with one RBI. The other RBI belonged to Erin Cox.
The Blue Hose return to Clinton, S.C., Sunday, Feb. 19, as they host Oakland in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
