Rocky Mount, N.C. - Friday's USA South play saw a trio of Bishop teams pick up wins as women's tennis swept Salem, baseball split at Averett, and softball split at Greensboro.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
The Battling Bishop women's tennis team stayed perfect in USA South play with a 9-0 victory at Salem College. The duos of Florencia Sorrentino/Louise Hovhammer (8-1), Talitha Rowan/Stephany Barbera (8-0), and Giulia Zanetti/Nicole Halabi (8-1) gave Wesleyan a 3-0 lead after completion of doubles. The Bishops went on to post straight-set wins in singles action, led by Sorrentino, Zanetti, Rowan, and Halabi at the top four seeds, respectively. Ana Diaz and Ana Aguilar helped secure the shutout with victories at #5 and #6, with Aguilar's win coming in dominating fashion (6-0, 6-0). NCWC is now 6-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play heading into next Thursday's match at Ferrum College.
SOFTBALL
N.C. Wesleyan's softball team stayed atop the East Division standings with a doubleheader split at Greensboro College on Friday. The Bishops took the opener by an 8-1 score behind yet another solid pitching performance by freshman Beth Braswell. Braswell (8-3) went the distance, allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts over seven innings of work. Offensively, senior Kaitlyn Checkan continued her stellar play with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Additionally, Braswell helped her own cause with a 3-run double in the fourth inning. Unfortunately, the nightcap saw the Pride earn a 4-1 victory. Senior Logan Lowery (5-5) took the loss despite taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning for a second straight outing. GC's Hayley Tickle's 2-run homer in the sixth was just the Pride's second hit of the game and erased a 1-1 tie. The Bishops out-hit Greensboro 7-3 in the contest, led by junior Hannah Ivester's 2-for-3 performance. Wesleyan is now 17-9 overall, 9-3 in conference play.
BASEBALL
Wesleyan's baseball team also split its Friday USA South twinbill at Averett University. The Bishops tallied a 12-0 win over the Cougars in the opener, led by junior hurler Nate Gardner's second straight complete-game shutout. Gardner scattered seven hits and struck out ten batters over seven innings, while Kevin Berry, Max Johnson, Brandon Wheat, and Logan Andrews each had RBI-doubles in the game. Game two saw Averett rebound as Cougar starter Ryan Traylor flipped the script on the Bishops with a solid outing of his own. Traylor held the Bishops scoreless through the first five innings before Alec Titmus' RBI-groundout in the sixth spoiled his shutout bid. Freshman Drew Tubb (3-2) took the loss despite not giving up an earned run over six innings pitched. The Bishops are currently 14-15 overall, 7-7 in USA South action.
With inclement weather altering numerous schedules around the USA South this weekend, please continue to check www.ncwcsports.com for updates.