Softball Battles Through the Weekend

LOUISBURG -- Never one to back down from a tough test, Louisburg College softball coach Eric Lee pounced on the opportunity to host powerhouse Lake Land College from Illinois as part of a round-robin event last Thursday and Friday (Feb. 14-15) at Sheilah R. Cotten Field on the LC campus.

Pitt Community College and Harford Community College also took part in the two full days of competition.

Last Thursday's action saw the Lady Hurricanes fall twice to Lake Land by scores of 7-6 and 10-3.

Lee was interested to see how his club would respond Friday after the pair of setbacks -- and the second-year coach liked what he saw.

LC opened Friday's schedule by going to extra innings with Lake Land before securing a 12-11 conquest in the bottom of the eighth.

The Hurricanes led 11-6 before seeing the Lakers claw back to tie the score and force an international-rules extra session.

LC kept Lake Land off the scoreboard in the top of the eight before coming up with the victory when Mary Anna Clement scored the winner off a clutch single from Abbi Colclough.

"It was very exciting,'' Lee said. "The biggest thing was that we were able to get the last punch in. It was like a heavyweight boxing match between two very good teams.''

Louisburg finished off round-robin play Friday evening by knocking out three home runs en route to securing an 11-2 triumph versus Harford.

Sarah Hilton, LeeAnn Nobles and Haleigh Joyner went deep for the Lady Hurricanes, with Joyner's shot bouncing off the roof of the Winstead Training Facility beyond the left-center field fence.

For the game, Joyner went 3-for-3 with four RBI, while Hilton was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.

With a 6-2 record, the Lady Hurricanes will be at home Tuesday (February 19) for a doubleheader versus Richard Bland College out of Virginia.

First pitch will be at 2 p.m. at Sheilah R. Cotten Field.