Montgomery, AL – Softball drops their final two games at this weekend's Faulkner Invitational, losing 4-1 to #19 Faulkner and 7-4 to #20 Truett-McConnell. After the weekend outing, the Patriots hold a 2-4 record on the season.
After recording a win over the Eagles on Friday night, the Patriots got a second look at the team on day two of the series.
Paige Parker got the starting bid and pitching decision for UC, amounting 5.1 innings from the circle. After the 4-1 loss, Parker holds an 0-2 record from three appearances.
Parker held up strong through the first four innings as she did not relinquish a hit or run in the span. The rookie also fanned two strikeouts and no walks while tallying three three-up, three-down innings. Parker lost momentum in the fifth, allowing three runs off three hits, and later another run in the sixth.
Until then, Cumberlands had the upper hand with batting production, gaining five hits but was haunted after leaving five runners stranded on bases. The Patriots were able to tally a single score in the top of the sixth as
Maddie Sickau rounded the bases as a result of the centerfielder's error.
Cumberlands rallied seven hits to the Eagles five through the 6.5-inning affair.
Tori Malone led the softball squad with two in her name.
The Patriots attempted to regroup after the loss to the Eagles but came up short against the bears as well, 7-4. In game two of the day, Webb was elected to start in the circle but was relinquished after one inning of work resulting in consecutive innings of three-runs allowed. Maynard followed to complete the game, tabbing one run allowed from nine hits to offset three strikeouts tossed.
Cumberlands, batting as the home team in the neutral bout, allowed three runs in the top of the first but responded with a trio of their own in the same inning. With two outs and bases loaded, the scoring began as a bobbled ball off the Malone's bat resulted in the error sending
Acacia Gray across the plate. A walk and an infield single brought in two more runs for the Patriots with Sickau and
Hannah Stephenson each collecting one.
Three opposing runs and a pitching change later, the Patriots load the bases once again. Gray sped her way to another score, putting the tally on the board because of a wild pitch. However, Sickau and Stephenson would remain stranded on base as the Bears collected the final outs to end the inning.
The Patriots would not score for the rest of the game while Truett McConnel tabbed their final run in the fourth to bring the final score to 7-4. UC tallied eight runners left on to the Bears' nine, while both teams recorded two errors apiece.
Only four players from the Patriots hitting crew combined to tally the seven hits on the afternoon. Gray, Sickau and Stephenson each recorded a pair while
Sarah Biggerstaff got her only hit of the game in the first inning.
The Patriots return to action next weekend for the Reinhardt Invite. In addition to playing the hosts, the Patriots will see Freed-Hardman, Rio Grande, and USC-Beaufort.
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