Williamsburg, KY – The third-ranked UC softball team utilized a walk-off to win game 2-1, while their late rally came up short in game two 5-4 to split their doubleheader with (RV) Rio Grande Saturday afternoon. After the day, the Patriots move to 8-4 overall, while the Red Storm move to 7-4.
Game 1: LIVINGSTON WALKS IT OFF IN 2-1 WIN
The Patriots had a stellar pitching performance from
Lindsey Shope and
Kaitlyn Schofield as they combined to hold the Red Storm to four hits and one unearned run scored over seven innings of work. Shope tied her career-high with five strikeouts, while the defense behind her made great plays throughout the game to limit the Red Storm.
Carly Oliver and
Emma McDonald led the way with two hits apiece, while
Ryann Livingston notched her first collegiate RBI.
After a quick one, two, three inning in the top of the first, the Patriots struck first in the bottom of the inning. Oliver led off the game with a double. The Georgetown, KY native stole third and came around to score on an errant throw to put the Patriots in front 1-0.
Rio Grande evened the score at 1-1 in the top of second inning. From that point, Shope continued to command the strike zone to make quick work in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Cumberlands looked for the go ahead run in the fifth after McDonald singled to start the inning. She advanced to second on an
Aniyah White sac bunt but that was the closest she came as the Red Storm worked out the inning.
Shope posted a one, two, three inning in the sixth and Oliver led off the bottom half with a double to center. She advanced to third, however, was stranded keeping the game tied 1-1.
Rio Grande put two runners on with one out in the top of the seventh inning. Schofield came in and got Rio Grande to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning. McDonald earned a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. White followed with a single to give the Pats two runners on base. With two outs, Livingston stepped up and singled to center as McDonald came around to score for the 2-1 final.
Game 2: LATE RALLY COMES UP SHORT
Cumberlands plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, however, it wasn't enough as UC fell 5-4 in the nightcap.
Jade Gainer,
Bailey Turnbow, and
Amber Atkins each recorded two hits in the game, while
Carly Oliver went 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored. In the circle,
Jessica Cord got the start, while
Destry Lambert and
Cassidy Gentry combing for 3.2 innings scattering three hits and two unearned runs.
Cord pitched a scoreless first two innings, before Turnbow led off the bottom of the second with a single. Turnbow stole second and advanced to third on an Atkins single, but was stranded keeping the game scoreless.
The Red Storm plated two runs in the top of the third and the Patriots looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Oliver stepped up and blasted a homerun cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Rio Grande added three runs over the next two innings to take a 5-1 lead. Gentry came in relief and retired the Red Storm in the sixth keeping the score 5-1.
Cumberlands looked to mount a comeback in the bottom of the sixth as Gainer notched a single and advanced to second on a
Maliyah Wilkins walk. Turnbow followed with an RBI single to bring home Gainer and cut the deficit to 5-2. McDonald notched an RBI single, while Atkins tallied a single to load the bases.
Abby Guinn recorded the RBI walk, plating Turnbow and cutting the deficit to 5-4. That was the closest UC came as the Red Storm was able to get out of the inning earn the 5-4 final.
The Patriots will return the field Sunday, March 2
nd, for the rubber match against (RV) Rio Grande. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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