Softball traveled to Virginia this past weekend to play the Statesmen in a conference series. The Trojans drop three very close games to Richard Bland.
FTCC @ Richard Bland- Saturday, March 2 (11-12, Loss 8-innings)
Softball scores early in game one to force an extra inning ball game with the Statesmen. The Trojans had the lead the whole game up until the bottom of the sixth inning when Richard Bland scored four runs to tie the game at 11 runs.
The Trojans scored their first run in the top of the first when Trinity Gaither (Bunnlevel, NC) hit a single with one out and then stole second and third base. With two outs, Tamarah Lowery (Raeford, NC) hit a line drive RBI single to center field to score Gaither.
Three more runs cross the plate for the Trojans in the top of third before the Statesmen score their first in the bottom of the inning. Morgan Brady (Fayetteville, NC) singled with two outs to give the Trojans hope in this inning. Lowery followed with her second hit of the day before Kaylee Frank (Fayetteville, NC) smacked a double to right field to score both runners. Ava Basolt (Sanford, NC) followed with another double to score Frank giving the Trojans a 4-0 lead.
The top of the fourth inning started off with a leadoff single from Isabella Finelli (Pembroke, NC), a sacrifice turned error for Gaither and a hit for Brady resulting in an out put two runners on for the Trojans. Lowery walked to load the bases and a Statesmen error allowed one run to cross on a ground ball from Frank. Brady scored on a wild pitch to put the Trojans up 6-1 going into the bottom of the fourth where the defense held them scoreless.
The Trojans continued to score in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with three walks and no outs. Finelli crusheed a double to left field to earn two RBIs and Gaither had a sacrifice fly to score another run for the Trojans. With Finelli still on base, Brady drew the fourth walk of the inning. Lowery reached on an error and another sacrifice fly allowed the Trojans to plate two more runs before the third out.
The Statesmen answer back in the bottom of the fifth when they scored six runs on three hits to put the game in reach. The Trojans still led going into the top of the sixth 11-7.
Richard Bland scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning tying the game up at 11 all. Basolt came in to pitch for the Trojans in the bottom of the sixth to get themout of a jam and hold the Statesmen scoreless through the seventh inning.
The Trojans cannot get a run across in extra innings and Richard Bland walked it off in the bottom of the eighth to win the game.
Lowery threw 5.1 innings of work for the Trojans getting five strikeouts. Basolt finished the last 1.2 innings allowing one Statesmen run.
The Trojans had 11 hits and scored 11 runs in eight innings.
FTCC @ Richard Bland- Sunday, March 3 (11-12, Loss & 5-7, Loss)
Game one-
Game two of the series was a back and forth battle for the lead all game. The Trojans scored in every inning but two and Richard bland scored in every inning but one.
The Trojans started off the game scoring one run in the top of the first off a sacrifice fly from Brady which scored Finelli who led off the game with a triple. The Statesmen answered back with three runs to take the lead 1-3 after one inning of play.
Three more runs were plated for the Trojans in the top of the second inning. Krista McLean (Dunn, NC) led off with a double to center field. Faith Martin (Gatesville, NC) laid down a sacrifice to advance McLean to third base before she tagged up on a sacrifice fly by Madeline Burns (Sanford, NC). With no one on and one out, Finelli doubled to left field and eventually stole third base. She scored on a ground ball single to left field from Gaither. After an error and a walk from the Statesmen, the Trojans loaded the bases.. With Frank up to bat, she earns an RBI walk to give the Trojans the lead 4-3.
Richard Bland responded back in the bottom of the inning taking the lead 6-4 and eventually 8-4 after the Trojans went scoreless in the third.
The Trojans got some life back in the fourth inning scoring three runs on three hits and held the Statesmen to one run their next at bat to put the game within two. The Trojans go on to score one run in the fifth inning and the Statesmen scored two in the sixth.
Going into the top of the seventh, the Trojans needed at least three runs to force Richard Bland to hit again. With one out, Lowery reached on an error followed by a Frank single. Lowery then scored on a pass ball before Basolt hit a high fly double to left field. McLean hit a single to right field to score Basolt from second base to tie the game at 11.
In the bottom of the inning, Richard Bland scored one run to walk it off again in game two of the series.
Game two-
The Trojans scored five runs early and held the Statesmen to two runs until the bottom of the fourth. Gaither went 3-3 and Lowery went 4-4 in game three.
Martin pitched a complete six inning game for the Trojans allowing 11 hits and seven runs with only one being earned.
McLean hit a leadoff homerun in the second inning, her first of the season.
Softball is back at home this Thursday, March 7 for a doubleheader against Salem Community College at 12pm. The Trojans play their next conference games on Sunday, March 10 against Pitt Community College at JP Riddle Complex starting at 1pm.
Softball Schedule