BELMONT, N.C. - The USCA softball team dropped both games at Belmont Abbey Saturday by scores of 10-4 and 9-4.
The Pacers are now 8-8 on the season.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team took an early 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Peri Rouillard doubled and took third on a bunt single by
Kaylee Bolding. Rouillard scored on a fielder's choice and
Kate Newberry's base hit plated Bolding for a two-run margin.
The Crusaders pushed across five runs in the fifth, but Poole's team responded in the sixth. Newberry led off the frame with a single to left field and Grace Walker entered as a pinch runner. After moving to second on a groundout,
Cameron Greene launched a two-run shot over the left center field wall, making it 5-4.
Belmont Abbey responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame for a 10-4 lead. Bolding reached on a one-out error, but the team could not push across another run.
For the game, Newberry and Rouillard had two hits each. Greene drove in two in the loss.
In the circle,
Ally Fleming worked 5.2 innings and gave up just one earned run.
Claire Radford recorded the final out.
Game two saw USCA take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. With two down,
Autumn Fisher belted a triple down the right field line and scored on Newberry's base hit.
The home squad pushed across three runs in the first and four in the third for a 7-1 lead.
The Pacers responded with a run in the fourth when Fisher walked and later scored on a double by
Chloe Webb. Trailing 8-2 in the fifth,
Cassidy Neves reached on a fielder's choice and took third on a Rouillard double down the left field line. Neves crossed home on
Lydia Johnson's groundout. Fisher knocked in Rouillard, bringing the team within four.
The Crusaders answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth for the final tally.
For the game, Fisher, Rouillard and Webb had two hits apiece. Fisher scored twice. Fisher, Webb, Newberry and Johnson crossed home twice. Rouillard and Neves each scored once.
In the circle,
Abbie Kegley worked all six frames and had six strikeouts.
The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they host North Greenville for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
