Bishop Softball Sweeps Baldwin, Splits with Averett

Bishop Softball Sweeps Baldwin, Splits with Averett

Danville, Va. - North Carolina Wesleyan's softball team picked up a trio of much-needed USA South wins over the weekend, sweeping Mary Baldwin College before securing a split with Averett University. Sophomore Kendra Hoes blasted two homeruns to help NCWC to a pair of shutouts of Baldwin on Friday, while senior Amanda Warley delivered a game-winning two-run single to give the Bishops a 7-5 win over Averett on Saturday.

The Bishops turned in 10-0 and 7-0 shutouts of MBC on Friday. In the opener, junior Brittni Jones went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while sophomore Kelsi Bailey picked up the win in the circle, allowing just three hits and striking out five.

Game two saw Wesleyan freshman Jasmine Edgren pace the offense with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Junior Paige Pritchett ripped a pair of doubles and drove in two, as did sophomore Carla Matthews. Leanna Fann earned the win on the mound, also tossing a three-hit shutout.

In Saturday's opener at Averett, the Cougars turned four Bishop errors into six unearned runs en route to an 8-4 win. Bailey (5-6) took the tough loss despite giving up only two earned runs, while Jones, Carly Creef and Jessica Hodges turned in two hits apiece offensively.

Wesleyan bounced back with a 7-5 come-from-behind win in the nightcap. Pritchett blasted a two-run homer in the second inning for an early 2-0 advantage for the Bishops, but AU plated the next five for a 5-2 Cougar lead heading into the sixth inning.

Hoes got the rally started with a solo homerun to lead off the sixth, while Pritchett followed up with a single and later scored on a Hodges RBI.

Down 5-4 in the seventh, Pritchett tied the score with a bases-loaded RBI-groundout. Warley then delivered a game-winning two-out single up the middle to provide the 7-5 final. Fann (6-6) went the distance to pick up her sixth win of the season.

Wesleyan (12-14, 8-10 USA South) returns to action on Wednesday when the Bishops host a non-conference twinbill with Virginia Wesleyan. First pitch is slated for 3:00pm at Edge Field.