Wingate, N.C. – The Catawba College Softball team would be defeated in dramatic fashion in their second and final game of the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Softball Tournament on Saturday, falling 4-3 in extra innings to the No. 23 ranked Lenoir-Rhyne Bears after a low-scoring game erupted in the ninth inning at the WU Softball Complex  

TEAM STATISTICS 

- At the plate, Catawba batters led the way with 11 hits to Lenoir-Rhyne's six, and notched three extra base hits to one for the Bears 

- Lenoir-Rhyne hitters drew six walks to just one for Catawba  

- The Bears left nine runners stranded, with Catawba leaving seven runners aboard 

- On the mound for Catawba, Riley Tuckerstarted and pitched for 6.1 innings, surrendering just one run while allowing three hits and striking out a pair of batters. Bri Herringentered for the final 2.0 innings, taking the loss as she allowed three runs in relief 

- Lenoir-Rhyne starter Madison Wilson pitched all nine innings, earning the win by allowing two earned runs and striking out four batters while going the distance 

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS 

- The trio of Christina Brendle, Madison Taylor, and Savanna Balderston led Catawba offensively with a pair of hits each  

- Taylor and Balderston both sent home runs over the wall for an RBI each, while Bri Gallagher added Catawba's third extra base hit in the form of a double  

- Grace Flynnnotched both Catawba's lone walk and lone stolen base in the matchup 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

 SECOND INNING 

- Catawba struck first through Gallagher, who put herself in prime position on third base thanks to a double before advancing to third on a passed ball. An error from Lenoir-Rhyne catcher Lani Warren would allow Gallagher to complete her trip around the bases and give Catawba an early 1-0 lead  

 SEVENTH INNING 

- A fielding error allowed Madison Primm to reach second base as she led off for Lenoir-Rhyne in the bottom of the seventh, and after advancing to third on a ground out Primm would score the tying run off of a single from Cassidy Wall 

 NINTH INNING 

- Catawba's bats came alive in the top of the ninth inning, with Taylor first sending a solo shot into left center to give Catawba a 2-1 lead and then Balderston making it 3-1 with another long ball into left field 

- With one out, Lenoir-Rhyne's Kaylan Brown and Madison Wilson were able to reach on a walk and single, respectively. Katelyn Rackard would step up and end the game with the third home run of the inning, a three-run blast into right center that gave the Bears a 4-3 win