GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Monarch softball team split a doubleheader with host Greensboro College on Saturday, winning the first game with a late inning rally including a grand slam by Lindsay Tippett, 5-4, before dropping the nightcap, 9-3. Methodist now stands at 3-3 on the year and 1-1 in the USA South, while the Pride are now 2-2 (1-1 USAS).
The Pride jumped on the board first, using a single by Sarah Connolly down the right field line to drive home Rumley and take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Monarchs answered back quickly in the second to knot the score at 1-1. Kristen Bailly drew a lead-off walk and Ally Griffin reached after being hit by a pitch to put Methodist in scoring position. The next batter, Krista Zentner advanced the runners 60 feet on a ground out but a sacrifice fly by Allyson Aycock to centerfield scored Bailly, tying the game.
The Pride regained the lead in the third inning off and RBI single by Brittainy Rush and gained a 3-1 advantage in the fifth as Allyson Yeager stole home.
Tippett gave the Monarchs a 5-3 lead with the aforementioned grand slam to score Heather Williams, Sarah Stapleton and Kristen Markow.
Greensboro threatened in the seventh inning, but was held to only one run on a RBI single by Connolly.
Nicole Heinrich clinched the victory, pitching all 7.0 for the Monarchs and allowing 10 hits and four runs (3 ER) with two strikeouts.
Jackie Nicholson took the loss, pitching 1.2 innings and gave up three runs and one hit after relieving starting pitcher, Harris, who tossed for the first 5.1 innings and allowed two runs and seven hits.
Tippett was 3-for-4 with four RBI and one run scored while Heather Williams 1-for-3 with one scored run.
The second game saw the opposite ending, as Greensboro made a fifth inning rally to break a 2-2 tie and eventually end on top, 9-3.
The Pride went ahead 1-0 in the first after Chelsea Brewer scored on a Monarch error after tripling down the right field line.
Back-to-back errors by Greensboro put Tippett and Bailly on base in the top of the fourth inning and Griffin loaded the bases after drawing a walk. After Zentner lined out, Aycock reached on a fielder's choice with Griffin out at second, scoring Tippett and tying the score at 1-1.
Greensboro responded quickly in the bottom half of the frame as Nicholson doubled to drive Connolly home and regain the lead 2-1.
With two outs and Stapleton on second after reaching on a single, Tippett reached on an error by Greensboro and advanced to second, consequently sending Stapleton home and tying the score once again at 2-2.
Greensboro's bats exploded in the bottom of the fifth, tallying six runs in one inning. Singles by Brewer, Connolly and Hayley Rumley and a double by Nicholson made the score 6-2 in the Pride's favor. Yeager followed with a single, advancing Nicholson to third, who scored on the next play. Yeager was driven home on a Sarah Tompkins single and Greensboro pushed its lead to 8-2.
Methodist added another run in the top of the seventh on a RBI single by Bailly to score Sarah Stapleton, but it was not enough, as the Monarchs ended the inning on the next play with a ground out by Griffin.
Lauren Miller walked away with the win for Greensboro, tossing all 7.0 innings and allowing three runs (1 ER) and six hits and added four strike outs.
Starting pitcher Emily Hester was handed the loss after 4.1 innings on the mound for Methodist, allowing four runs (3 ER) and six hits. Christine Bowman (0.1 inning) and Brittany Miller (1.1 innings) pitched in relief for Hester, allowing three and two runs, respectively.
Bailly was 2-for-2 with one RBI while Stapleton finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one walk. Griffin and Aycock each added an RBI.
Connolly went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored for Greensboro, and Nicholson was 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Tompkins and Brewer added an RBI apiece.
The Monarchs return to home play on Sunday as they host Penn State Altoona with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm.
--
