Softball traveled to Brunswick Community College on Monday, April 1 for a conference doubleheader. The Trojans came out on top in both games improving their record to 16-13 overall and 8-9 in conference play. They have won the last ten games in a row, putting them in the #6 spot in Region 10.
FTCC vs. Brunswick CC
Game One- 13-2, Win 5-innings
The Trojans came out with a bang off the bus, scoring eight runs in the top of the first inning. Isabella Finelli (Pembroke, NC) started the game off with a double and Trinity Gaither (Bunnlevel, NC) followed with a single. Morgan Brady (Fayetteville, NC) reached on an error allowing one run to score. Nyla Mitchell (Lumberton, NC) singled to keep the rally going and plate another Trojan runner. With one out, Ava Basolt (Sanford, NC) picked up an RBI with her single before the Dolphins commit another error on a ball hit by Tam Lowery (Raeford, NC) to put the Trojans up by four. Krista McLean (Dunn, NC) singled in her first at bat and Madeline Burns (Sanford, NC) reached on a Dolphin error to add three more runs. The Trojans were back to the top of their lineup and Finelli hit a sacrifice fly in her second at bat of the inning to push across the eighth run.
Brunswick scored one run in the bottom of the inning, but the Trojans responded right back scoring one run in the second inning.
Mitchell led the inning off with a double to center field. Mitchell advanced to third on a ground ball out and scored on a sacrifice fly from Basolt.
The Trojans scored three more runs in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 12-2. Mitchell was walked to start the inning, advanced to second base on a passed ball and ended up on third from a ground ball out. Basolt singled to plate one of the three runs of the inning before Lowery hit a fly ball over the right field fence for a two-run homerun.
One more run was scored in the top of the fifth inning from two walks, a single from Kaylee Frank (Fayetteville, NC) and a ground ball RBI.
Finelli and Basolt both went 2-2 in game one. Lowery added four RBIs and a homerun.
Lowery pitched a complete five inning game for the Trojans. She gave up four hits, two runs and had four strikeouts.
Game Two- 15-11, Win
The second game was a complete seven inning contest. The Trojans scored three runs in the top of the first, but this time the Dolphins responded in the bottom of the inning scoring two runs.
Finelli led off game two with a single followed by a sacrifice bunt from Gaither and a single from Brady. Mitchell walked to load the bases. Frank and Basolt hit back to back doubles to put the Trojans on the scoreboard early with three runs.
Brunswick took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the second, pulling ahead of the Trojans 4-3.
The Trojans get their lead back in the top of the third when they plate three more runs. Mitchell was hit by a pitch to start the inning, but the Dolphins turned a double play right after. With two outs, Basolt hit her second double of the game to get a rally started. Lowery and McLean followed with singles to tie the game up at four. Burns reached on an error and Finelli singled to pull the Trojans ahead by two runs.
The Dolphins weren’t backing down in game two when they retook the lead scoring four runs in the bottom of the third.
Like the Trojans had been doing all day, they responded in the top of the fourth to take their lead back. Brady started the inning off getting hit by a pitch. With one out, Frank singled to score Brady. With two outs, Lowery singled and McLean walked to load the bases. Burns hit an RBI single to right field to tie the game back up at eight. Finelli earned another RBI when she singled to give the Trojans back the lead.
Both teams remained scoreless until the the top of the sixth, when the Trojans explode for six runs.
Burns started the inning off hot with a triple to right field. With one out, Gaither reached on an error to score Burns from third base. Brady and Mitchell hit back to back singles followed by a walk from Frank and another single from Basolt. Lowery grounded out for the second out of the inning, but earned an RBI to give the Trojans their 14th run of the game. McLean kept the inning going with a walk and Basolt scored on a passed ball before the third out of the inning.
Brunswick scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, but could not get a run across in the seventh.
The Trojans had 19 hits in game two, scoring 15 runs.
Basolt pitched the first 2.1 innings and Lowery finished the final 4.2 innings to get her second win on the day.
Softball is back at home on Wednesday, April 3 as they host the third game of the conference series against Brunswick at 6pm. This will be their Autism Awareness Game, come out and support and wear blue! Softball is away all weekend as they travel to Wake Tech for their next conference series.
Softball Schedule