The Blackburn College Softball Team split a doubleheader with Greenville University by the scores of 9-1 in favor of Greenville and 7-2 as Blackburn gained the split.
The Panthers were led by their bats in the first game, as they had 11 hits and scored nine runs. Maegan Stone started the scoring with a triple to left field to drive in Jaclyn Belzer and Greenville a 1-0 lead. Desirae Yost flew out to centerfield to drive in Stone and extend the lead to two runs. With two outs Olivia Shipman would double to left field to drive in another run to extend the score to 3-0. In the second inning the Beavers would get a run of their own as Freshman pitcher Taylor Girth doubled to centerfield to bring in Maddie Wichmann and cut the lead 3-1. The Panthers would get that run back and more as Kendall Farr smacked a two-run homerun to centerfield. After three innings Greenville was leading 5-1. Farr was not satisfied with her two-run shot as she connected on a three-run homer in the fourth inning to give Greenville a 8-1 lead. After a scoreless fifth inning, Greenville would add one more run off the bat of Shipman as singled to score Hannah Hoffmann.
WP: Kendall Farr- 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 SO
LP: Taylor Girth- 4 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 2 SO
Emily Brown- 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R
Brooke Dainels led the Beavers with two hits. Girth drove in the only run as she went one for two for the game.
Farr led the Panthers with two home runs and five runs batted in. Hoffmann scored four runs and went two for four at the plate.
The second game was complete opposite as the Beavers out-scored and out-hit the Panthers. Blackburn was led by a solid performance from Brooke Daniels. She pitched a complete game allowing two runs and struck out nine Panthers.
Greenville would take an early lead as Desirae Yost singled to shortstop and drove in Belzer. The scoring would pick up in the third inning with the Panthers extending the lead off the bat of Hoffmann. Greenville leading two to zero after three. Both teams stayed quiet in the fourth inning as there was only one baserunner.
Action would pick up in the bottom of the fifth inning for the Beavers. Sophomore Catcher Jade Novak would start the inning off with a pitch-hit single. Next batter Freshman outfielder Chelsea Ashlock reached first on an error and advanced Novak. Sophomore Lexi Shaw would lay down a perfect sac bunt to advance the runners, then Josie Manar smacked a double to centerfield to drive in both runners to tie the game. Jenna Thacker would pitch-run for Manar and be driven in by Daniels to give Blackburn their first lead. McKenzie Smith would drive in two runs to give Blackburn a 5-3 lead. Emily Brown would come around and score on an error by the right fielder. After six innings Blackburn led 6-2.
Shaw would extend the lead in the sixth inning with a single to left driving in Chelsea Terranova. Daniles would strike out three batters in the seventh inning to end the game.
WP: Brooke Daniels 7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 9 SO
LP: Maegan Stone 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 4 SO
Alison Klaus 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 SO
Shaw led the Beavers with two hits and one RBI. Daniels also had two hits and drove in a run.
UP NEXT: Blackburn will host Westminster College on Saturday, March 27th for a doubleheader. The first pitch will be 1:00 P.M.