Softball opened up the 2020 season this weekend with the Sheilah R. Cotten Invitational. There were double headers Friday, Saturday and Sunday which advanced Louisburg College to a 5-1 record.

On Friday play began against Mercyhurst North East. Amber Mclaren had 5 RBIs in the contest, LeeAnn Nobles added 3, Haleigh Joyner and Courtney Lamb had 2 each. Haven Williams, Jai Deese, Mallory Brooks, Sammi Jo Loney, and Sarah Hilton all had 1 RBI a piece to propel the Hurricanes to 19-7 victory. Ina Womack was the starting pitcher for the Hurricanes. She gave up 5 hits and had 9 strikeouts while giving up 3 earned runs in her 4 innings pitched.

The second game was against CCBC Catonsville. It ended in an 8-0 win for Louisburg after 5 innings. Haven Williams and Jai Deese combined for the 5 inning shutout as Sarah Hilton (3), Haleigh Hoyner (2), Haven Williams (1), Jai Deese (1), and LeeAnn Nobles (1) all had RBIs in the win.

Saturday began with another game against Mercyhurst in which the Hurricanes were victorious 25-15. Louisburg combined for 21 extra base hits in the game including 6 homeruns.

The second game Saturday was also against CCBC Catonsville. It was the Hurricanes only loss of the weekend 12-10. Ina Womack and Haley Tomlinson both took the mound for the Hurricanes in the loss as the team committed two errors behind them. Sammi Jo Loney got a hit in all 4 plate appearances, accounting for 4 of the Hurricanes 15 hits but it wasn't enough for the win.

On Sunday the Sheilah R. Cotten Invitational continued as the Hurricanes matched up against Catawba Valley. Mallory Brooks and Sarah Hilton had 3 RBIs a piece contributing to the Hurricanes 11-3 victory. Ina Womack started the game on the mound. She gave up 4 hits in 3 innings to account for 1 Catawba Valley run. Haley Tomlinson also pitched 3 innings and gave up 2 runs on 5 hits.

The last game of the weekend for Louisburg Softball featured Richard Bland College against the Hurricanes. Ina Womack took the mound once again to only give up 1 run on 2 hits and 7 strikeouts in her 5 innings pitched. Amber Mclaren, Haleigh Hoyner, and Sarah Hilton all had hits in the 2-1 Hurricane victory.

"I'm really proud of our team and the way they fought through an extremely long weekend," said Louisburg head coach Eric Lee. "We had some struggles on Saturday on the defensive side and in the circle, but we came back on Sunday and answered with masterful pitching performances by Ina Womack and Haley Tomlinson."

The Hurricanes finished the weekend with a .466 batting average and .556 on base percentage.  The team had 76 hits including 14 from Amber Mclaren. Jordyn Scott added 4 homeruns.

Softball will take the field again this weekend for two games at Florence-Darlington Technical College on Friday, only to return home on Saturday to face Caldwell for a double header at 2 and 4 pm.