Softball splits doubleheader at day one of Surf ‘N Turf Classic

Dahlonega, Ga. —- The Catawba College softball team split its doubleheader with top-ranked North Georgia and Emmanuel on day one of the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic in Dahlonega on Friday afternoon.

GAME ONE | North Georgia 6, Catawba 1

TEAM STATS

- North Georgia out-hit Catawba 12-2

- The Nighthawks recorded all four extra-base hits in the game, including the lone homer

- The Catawba Indians committed both errors in the contest

- UNG had all three steals in the game

- North Georgia's pitchers allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts; Catawba's staff allowed six earned runs on 12 hits and one walk with four strikeouts

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Riley Tucker singled and scored

- Bri Gallagher also recorded a hit

- Kary Hales drove the run home

- Alex Baquie provided three quality innings of relief, allowing one earned run on three hits and three strikeouts

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST INNING

- Tucker singled to lead off the game and Aniyah King bunted her to second

- Gallagher's singled to move her up to third and Hales' RBI groundout gave the Catawba Indians an early 1-0 lead

- Blair's one-out single tied the game in the bottom half for UNG

THIRD INNING

- Three straight singles gave the Nighthawks the lead

- An RBI groundout doubled the UNG lead to 3-1

FOURTH INNING

- UNG's Mixon hit a two-out, two-RBI double to take a 5-1 lead

SIXTH INNING

- Blair homered to left center with two outs in the sixth for the final run scored

GAME TWO | Catawba 11, Emmanuel 4

TEAM STATS

- Catawba out-hit Emmanuel 9-8

- The Lions had two of three extra-base hits with both homers

- EC had the lone error of the game

- Catawba stole the only base of the game

- The Catawba Indian pitchers allowed four earned runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out one; the Lions' staff allowed 10 earned runs on nine hits and seven walks, striking out three

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Savanna Balderston was 2-for-3 with a double and five RBI

- King went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base

- Bri Herring also had two hits with a run driven in and a run scored

- Baquie earned the win, allowing four earned runs in three innings

- Tucker provided four innings of shutout relief, allowing just two hits and two walks

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST INNING

- The Catawba Indians exploded for seven runs in the first inning

- Herring's single scored Tucker

- Courtnee Carter and Kinsley Caldwell drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks to extend the lead to 3-0

- King's single up the middle scored a run and advanced everyone 60 feet

- Balderston's bases-clearing double made it a 7-0 Catawba lead

SECOND INNING

- Three singles loaded the bases for the Catawba Indians

- King's bases-loaded walk extended the lead to 8-0

THIRD INNING

- Back-to-back Emmanuel homers cut their deficit in half to 8-4 in the third

FOURTH INNING

- King's infield single scored Carter from third

- Balderston's two-RBI single was the final scoring in the game to make it 10-4

UP NEXT

- Catawba wraps up action at the Surf 'N Turf Classic tomorrow with a re-match against #1 North Georgia at noon and West Georgia at 4 p.m.