Salisbury, N.C – The Catawba College Softball team (22-24, 10-12 SAC) swept the Limestone Saints (21-19, 6-14) at Whitley Field in their final homestand of the season, riding solid pitching from both Riley Tucker and Bri Herring along with opportunistic hitting for a 5-1 opening win and a 6-1 victory in the second matchup
GAME ONE | Catawba 5, Limestone 1
TEAM STATISTICS
- Catawba led the way offensively with eight hits, with Limestone tallying five in the opening game
- Both extra base hits in the game came in the form of Catawba home runs, with all three RBIs also coming from the home side
- Catawba hitters drew three walks, with Limestone batters drawing two
- In the circle for Catawba, Tucker (8-8) earned the win as she allowed no earned runs over six innings of work while surrendering just four hits. Herring closed out the final inning, recording a strikeout to secure the win.
- For Limestone, Chelsey Stonesifer (10-6) took the loss as she allowed four earned runs on eight hits despite striking out seven batters
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
- The trio of Kary Hales, Bri Gallagher, and Madison Taylor led Catawba at the plate with two hits each
- Courtnee Carter drew a game-high two walks
- Hales and Gallagher both launched home runs in the winning effort, with Hales' effort helping give her a game-high two RBIs
HOW IT HAPPENED
THIRD INNING
- Catawba struck first via Hales, who was able to score Herring from second on an RBI single into center field for a 1-0 lead
FOURTH INNING
- A solo shot from Gallagher into center doubled Catawba's lead to open the bottom of the fourth inning, followed by both Carter and Taylor getting aboard on a walk and single
- With Callie Parker in to pinch run for Taylor, a wild pitch and throwing error allowed both her and Carter to score in a chaotic sequence to put Catawba up 4-0
FIFTH INNING
- A fielding error allowed the Saints to score their lone run of the game, coming from Linsey Voorhese off a single into center from Faith Calloway
- Catawba answered through another solo shot to make it 5-1, this time off the bat of Hales and over the left field wall
GAME TWO | Catawba 6, Limestone 1
TEAM STATISTICS
- Limestone connected more at the plate in the second game, with nine hits to Catawba's seven
- The lone home run of the game would belong to the Saints
- Catawba featured six batters with an RBI, to just one for Limestone
- Neither team had a hitter walk, and combined for only three strikeouts
- In the circle for Catawba, Herring (5-4) allowed just one earned run while striking out two over six innings of work for the win. Tucker closed out the final inning, allowing no hits to finish the job
- Limestone starter Vivian Stone (1-3) would be saddled with the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in 1.1 innings. Breanna Clayton went the final 4.2 innings, allowing two hits and one more run the rest of the way
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
- Grace Flynn led Catawba with two hits, while five other players tallied one each
- Six Catawba batters notched RBIs
- All six Catawba runs were scored by different players as well
HOW IT HAPPENED
SECOND INNING
- Catawba's hitters jumped on Stone in the bottom of the second inning, led by both Hales and Gallagher connecting on singles and advancing to third and second on a wild pitch with no outs
- Another single, this time off the bat of Taylor, sent Hales home for the opening run. After Aniyah King came in to pinch run for Taylor, a passed ball advanced her and Gallagher to second and third
- A sacrifice from Carter allowed Gallagher to make it 2-0 and put King in position on third, where she'd score on a single from Herring
- Herring made it 4-0 shortly after, advancing to second on another wild pitch before scoring on a single from Savanna Balderston
- Catawba's fifth and final run of the inning came courtesy of a sac fly into center from Christina Brendle that gave Balderston time to reach home
FOURTH INNING
- Santana Anderson scored Limestone's lone run of the game on a solo shot over the left field wall
FIFTH INNING
- Flynn scored Catawba's sixth and final run of the game, reaching home as Hales grounded out to second base
UP NEXT
- The Catawba College Softball team closes out the regular season on Saturday, April 20th as they travel to Hartsville, S.C. for a double header against the Coker Cobras at Saleeby-Stokes Field. Game times are currently set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
