Tucker’s Late Homer Earns Softball Split vs. #16 Wingate
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#16 Wingate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
|
Catawba | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#16 Wingate | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 1 |
|
Catawba | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
SALISBURY, N.C. -- The Catawba College softball team earned a split with 16th-ranked Wingate on Wednesday after Riley Tucker's two-run home run with two outs in the sixth inning propelled Catawba to a late lead. Catawba moves to 23-15 overall and 11-9 in the South Atlantic Conference, while the Bulldogs move to 37-10 on the year and 15-5 in league action.
The two teams combined for 21 hits in game one, as Bri Gallagher went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored and Tucker was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Wingate scored three runs in the top of the first, but Catawba responded by placing its first four batters on base safely, knocking the Bulldogs' starter out of the game. The Catawba Indians went on to score four runs in the inning as Kary Hales, Gallagher, Molly Strider and Allie Burns picked up bases-loaded RBI.
The Bulldogs scored two runs in the second on an error, but Gallagher's RBI single in the bottom half returned the game to a 5-5 tie after just two innings. Heaven Maness homered for Wingate in the fourth inning and despite Madison Taylor's sac fly in the bottom half, Wingate held on for the game one win with insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Jillian Thomas got the win for the Bulldogs, while Raechel Cutcher earned the save, retiring the last 12 Catawba batters she faced. Alex Baquie got the loss, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits and seven walks with five strikeouts.
Game two was not nearly as friendly to the offenses, as the teams combined for just five runs on eight hits. Catawba got on the board in the second inning on Hales' solo homer to give the home team a slim 1-0 lead.
Wingate's Alyssa Hall responded in the fifth with a two-run homer to take the lead. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Christina Brendle had a base hit and Tucker blasted the go-ahead two-run homer to right-center to give Catawba the late lead.
Lauren Brickey closed it out for Catawba, earning the win in the circle, while allowing just a walk in the final 2.2 innings.
Catawba hits the road on Saturday, traveling to UVA Wise for a doubleheader at 2 p.m.