Softball splits series with Gaston College
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Louisburg College | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
|
Gaston College | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
In a weekend doubleheader, Louisburg College softball played a competitive series against Gaston College, earning a split after dropping the first game but bouncing back to win the second.
Game 1: Gaston College Dominates Early
The first game of the day saw Gaston College come out on top with an 8-3 victory. The game started with a slow offensive pace, as the two teams combined for only one run in the first three innings. Gaston College broke the game open in the third inning, scoring six runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
Louisburg showed signs of life, scoring two runs in the fourth inning and adding another in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to mount a serious comeback.
Key Performances:
- Louisburg College: Reece Pickett was a bright spot, going 1-for-3 with a run scored. Madison Hall added an RBI while pitching 2.1 innings and allowing 5 earned runs.
- Gaston College: Alayna Patrick had a big game, driving in three RBIs. Skye Harrington hit a home run, while Kendall Bradshaw contributed with an RBI and a run scored.
Despite strong individual efforts, Louisburg's defense and pitching struggles in the third inning proved costly.
Game 2: Louisburg Bounces Back for Dominant Win
The second game was a different story as Louisburg College stormed back to win 10-7, powered by a five-run second inning.
Allison Moore led the charge with a two-run homer, and Mackenzie Smith also added a long ball, driving in three runs on the day. The offense came alive early, as Louisburg scored five runs in the second inning, followed by a strong three-run fourth inning to take control of the game.
Key Performances:
- Louisburg College: Mackenzie Smith had a standout performance, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored, including a home run. Allison Moore also hit a two-run homer and finished with 2 RBIs. On the mound, Alex Steen (1-0) pitched 3 innings, allowing 6 runs, but Reece Pickett came in for relief and secured the win, throwing 4 solid innings with just one earned run.
- Gaston College: Kendall Bradshaw went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, including a home run. Sarah Johnson also drove in 2 RBIs in a losing effort.
Despite a strong comeback attempt by Gaston College, Louisburg's offensive explosion was too much to overcome, and they closed out the game with a three-run sixth inning to hold on to a comfortable lead.
Takeaways
Louisburg College showed resilience in the second game, rallying from their Game 1 defeat with a much-improved offensive effort. The win was highlighted by strong individual performances from Moore, Smith, and the pitching staff, which held off Gaston's late-game push.
While the team will look to clean up some defensive issues and continue building consistency on the mound, the series split showed that Louisburg is capable of bouncing back after a tough loss, a trait that will be valuable as the season progresses.