NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team swept Lander University, 4-2 and 6-1, in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Lander falls to 11-23 overall, while Newberry improves to 22-13-1.
In the first game, Newberry struck early in the second inning. After an inning and a half of scoreless softball, Newberry was able to capitalize by loading the bases with out getting a hit. Sara Powell walked, Tiffany Pigage was hit by a pitch and Jessica Reid drew a walk. With two outs, Ginna Dean poked a single through the left side to score Powell, while Courtney Lindler followed her with a three-run double to left field, giving Newberry a 4-0 lead.
Winning pitcher Stephanie Monette (9-7) carried a no-hitter into the fourth before Lander's Daisy Stewart broke it up with a single to left-center.
In the seventh, Lander's Leigh Ann Kelley reached with a single, and scored on Natalie Smith's double down the left field line. Brittany Wallace drove Smith home when the Newberry outfield was unable to catch her towering fly ball.
Monette gave up two runs - one earned - in seven innings of work, giving up five hits and a walk while striking out five. Lander starting pitcher Austin Murray (4-12) picked up the loss, giving up four runs - all earned - in three innings, allowing four hits and five walks while striking out one. Relief pitcher Jenna Kellett allowed no runs on four hits and two walks in three innings, striking out one.
In the second game, early miscues allowed Newberry to score the opening run before breaking the game open in the late innings.
Newberry's Amy Jarrell led the first off with a base on balls, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Lindler. After Kat Hammond walked, runners advanced on two passed balls during Christina Kirby's at-bat, allowing Jarrell to give Newberry an early 1-0 advantage.
In the fifth, McKenzie Phillips led off with a single that caromed off the pitcher, and pinch runner Monette moved to second on a Jarrell single through the left side. Lindler's sacrifice fly to left moved the runners to first and third with two outs. A Hammond single drove home Monette, and a well executed double steal plated Jarrell, giving Newberry the 3-0 lead.
The Lady Indians plated three more in the bottom of the sixth, but Lander was not about to leave town without making it interesting.
Pinch hitter Megan Lowe opened with a single, and was replaced by Harris, who advanced to second on a passed ball. After Heather Bishop singled to right, Smith plated Harris on a sacrifice fly. However, the Bearcat rally fell short when Wallace flied out to center.
Kirby (11-5) went the distance to pick up the win for the Lady Indians. She allowed one earned run on seven hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Wallace (3-2) suffered the loss for the Bearcats in 5-1/3 innings, allowing five runs - three earned - on five hits, five walks and two strikeouts.
