Softball hosted Southeastern Community College-Whiteville on Friday, March 22 for a doubleheader to start off the conference series. The Trojans came out on top in extra innings in game one and game two was suspended due to rain. They resumed the second game on Tuesday, March 26 before the start of game three in Whiteville.
FTCC vs. Southeastern Community College- Whiteville
Game One 7-6, Win 9-innings
The Rams scored first in game one in the top of third and fourth innings. The Trojans didn’t answer back until the bottom of the fifth.
With one out, Tam Lowery (Raeford, NC) hit a double to center field. The Rams had an error to allow Alyssa Lauber (Lillington, NC) to reach base before Madeline Burns (Sanford, NC) singled to plate the first Trojan run of the game. Isabella Finelli (Pembroke, NC) and Trinity Gaither (Bunnlevel, NC) hit back to back singles to score one more run.
The Rams added two more to their lead in the top of the sixth leading the Trojans 5-2 before going into the bottom of the inning.
The Trojans scored two in the sixth to pull within one. Kaylee Frank (Fayetteville, NC) led off the inning reaching on an error. With one out, Lowery hit her second double of the day. Faith Martin (Gatesville, NC) singled followed by a sacrifice fly from Burns.
The Rams remained scoreless in the top of the seventh, while the Trojans scored one to tie the game at five and force extra innings. Down to their last out, Nyla Mitchell (Lumberton, NC) singled to center field and Frank hit a line drive double to the fence to plate the tying run.
The next run was not scored until the top of the ninth when the Rams crossed one to take the lead.
The Trojans answered back in the bottom of the inning. Gaither singled to lead off and Morgan Brady (Fayetteville, NC) hit her second double on the day to tie the game back up at six. With one out, Frank singled to score the final runner for the Trojans to walk off the win.
Ava Basolt (Sanford, NC) started on the mound throwing 6.1 innings of work before Lowery finished the final 2.2 innings.
The Trojans had 12 hits to score their seven runs. Frank went 2-5 with two timely hits, while Lowery and Brady each doubled twice.
Game Two 9-1, Win (5-innings)
The Trojans got ahead early in game two and never slowed down, ending the game in five innings. The game was played up until the middle of the bottom of the third inning and it started downpouring to suspend the game.
The Rams scored one in the top of the first, but the Trojans responded right back with scoring five in the bottom. Gaither hit a one out single and Brady reached on an error to give the Trojans two runners on. Mitchell doubled to right field before Frank and Basolt hit singles to score four runs. With two outs, Lauber singled to score Basolt from second base to plate the final run of the inning.
The Trojans continued to score in the bottom of the second inning. Finelli led off with a single before Brady hit her third double on the day. Mitchell and Frank went back to back with singles to bring the score to 7-1. Mitchell scored on a throw back from the catcher at third base for one more Trojan run.
The final Trojan runner crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth to pull the game to ahead by eight. Brady was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. With one out, Frank and Basolt hit back to back singles to load the bases. Lowery hit a sacrifice fly to left field allowing Brady to tag up and score.
The Trojans held the Rams scoreless in the top of the fifth to end the game early.
Lowery pitched a complete five inning game, giving up five hits and striking out five.
Frank led the offense going 3-3, while Brady and Mitchell both added doubles.
Game Three 6-4, Win
Game three was another close game going into the seventh inning. The Rams scored early in the first inning with three runs, but the Trojans answered back in the top of the fourth tying the game.
The fourth inning started off with a homerun from Mitchell to put the Trojans on the scoreboard. Frank followed her with a single and Basolt doubled. Lowery singled to center field to plate both runners to tie the game at three.
The Rams took the lead back in the top of the fifth on a homerun, but the Trojans responded right back in the bottom of the inning to retie the game at four.
Basolt led off the inning with a single and advanced all the way to third base on a Rams error. Lowery walked to put runners on the corners for the Trojans. Lauber sacrificed bunted to score Basolt from third base for the tying run.
In the top of the seventh, the Trojans take their first lead of the game off another homerun from Mitchell, this time a two-run shot that scored her and Gaither who singled earlier in the inning.
The Rams had a single to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but Lowery struck out the side to secure the win for the Trojans.
Basolt pitched five innings for the Trojans giving up eight hits and striking out two. Lowery pitched the final two innings and had five strikeouts.
Softball is on the road on Thursday to Cary, NC to play William Peace University JV squad. Due to the weather forecast, keep an eye on the FTCC athletics website and social media for game updates.