Softball Earns Two Run-Rule Wins in Sweep Over W.V. Wesleyan

SALISBURY, N.C. – The Catawba Softball team put on a show at Whitley Field on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the visiting West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats in a home doubleheader. Catawba (7-5) saw terrific play both on the mound and at the plate over the course of 12 innings of action, with West Va. Wesleyan looking to bounce back from a now 0-2 start to their season.

Catawba's bats lit up after two scoreless innings to start Game 1, with left fielder Savannah Balderston and second baseman Courtnee Carter driving in runs with a double and a single, respectively. Three more runs would be tacked on in the fourth inning of action, with another double through shortstop Bri Gallagher driving in a third run for the home side. A sacrifice fly from right fielder Molly Strider and another RBI for Balderston off of a single completed the inning and put Catawba up 5-0.

A scoreless fifth inning gave way to a big fifth inning, where West Va. Wesleyan would finally get on the board. A groundout from Grace Smith allowed Alli Robinson to get home from third base, but that would be it for the Bobcats. Balderston would make it three RBIs with another double that drove in pinch runner Callie Parker, followed by Balderston herself scoring on a single from Carter.

Carter would go on to score off of another double, this time courtesy of third baseman Riley Tucker to make it 8-1. First baseman Kary Hales would go on to finish the game on the very next play, drilling a single that sent Emily Parrish home from third to give Catawba the magic eight-run lead needed to end the game.

In the circle, Catawba pitcher Alex Baquie pitched a complete game gem to get the win in Game 1, going all six innings and allowing just one hit and one run while walking two batters. Baquie also struck out six batters, including two in the second inning to keep West Va. Wesleyan at bay early. Bobcats starter Hannah Hudson went the first four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out three batters. Izzy Abalos saw 1.2 innings in reserve, allowing the final four runs on four hits while walking a pair of batters.

After a slow start to Game 1, West Va. Wesleyan opened the game hot to the tune of a pair of runs in the first inning to start Game 2 courtesy of a two-run home run from the bat of Robinson. However, the first inning would prove to be the only one that the Bobcats would finish with the advantage as Catawba erupted at the plate in the second inning to take a 5-2 lead.

Five singles and a sacrifice fly in the first six at-bats of the bottom of the second put two runs on the board to tie the game up before catcher Christina Brendle smacked a double that would send runners on first, second, and third all home and give Catawba their first lead. Both teams' bats would go quiet over the next two innings, but it was Catawba that struck again in the bottom of the 5th inning.

A fielder's choice on a hit from Gallagher and a throwing error allowed Brendle to score from third after singles from herself and Tucker, and then Hales knocked a double that sent Gallagher home to close out the inning and make it 7-2 heading into the sixth inning. In the sixth frame, Catawba were able to load the bases after holding West Va. Wesleyan scoreless for four straight innings, setting the stage for Strider to crush Catawba's first homer of the afternoon in the form of a walk-off grand slam to dead center field to make it 11-2.

Catawba once again got terrific play in the circle for Game 2, with Savannah Beaver starting and going the first five innings for the win before Baquie returned for the sixth and final frame. Beaver allowed just one hit after giving up two and two runs in the first inning, while walking just one batter and striking out two. Baquie struck out another in her inning of work to successfully close out the game.

For West Va. Wesleyan, Kendal Stoffel was the losing pitcher, surrendering nine hits and seven runs in five innings in the circle. Alexia Scarberry relieved her in the sixth frame, giving up the final four runs on three Catawba hits.

Wins for Baquie and Beaver move them to 4-2 and 1-2 records respectively on the season, while Catawba's hitters will hope they can retain the excellent form at the plate from Saturday's pair of results. Balderston led the way with a combined five hits and four RBIs, while scoring three times. Carter, Gallagher, Riley Tucker and  Kary Hales all notched three hits and at least one RBI, with Gallagher also scoring three times. Brendle notched two hits for three RBIs and Strider's grand slam have her four RBIs on two hits on the afternoon.

Catawba Softball will be back in action at home on Thursday, February 23rd, as they host Lees-McRae for a doubleheader at Whitley Field beginning at 1:00 PM EST.