Pikeville, KY: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles softball team journeyed to Pikeville, Kentucky, to face the home-standing Lady Bears on Monday, March 8th. Following are recaps from the double-header.
GAME 1: Alice Lloyd-1, UP-5
The Lady Bears broke the game open in the fifth to pull away for the win. UP scored their first run in the second on an error and 2 singles (0-1).
The visitors broke through in the top of the third when junior Abby Stambaugh drew a walk and then stole second. Later, she successfully stole home (1-1). Things remained the same until the bottom half of the fifth inning. In that inning, the home club was able to capitalize on three hits and an error to produce 4 big runs (1-5).
In the final two innings, ALC would see runners reach base, but unfortunately, none were able to cross the plate.
On the mound, senior pitcher Mckenzie Brewer started the game, but junior Haley Howell suffered the loss.
Senior Samantha Sturgill, sophomore Lindsey Adkins, and freshman Baylee Cox had 1 hit apiece for the Lady Eagles. ALC was outhit 9-3 and hurt themselves with 2 errors.
GAME 2: Alice Lloyd-6, UP-5
The Lady Eagles came back from a three-run deficit to win in a thriller and earn the split. After Pikeville scored 1 in the first and 2 in the fourth, they looked to be in solid shape (0-3), and on their way to a big victory.
However, in the top of the fifth, the Pippa Passes ladies combined four perfectly timed singles, along with some nifty baserunning, to plate 3 runs of their own and knot the score at 3-3.
The tie was broken in the next inning when two singles and a key error gave Alice Lloyd the lead (4-3). Things would look even better for the Lady Eagles in the following inning when 2 singles combined with two errors allowed 2 runs to cross the plate (6-3). The Lady Bears whittled into the deficit with 2 runs in the seventh (6-5), but fortunately for the Caney Creek club, the contest ended on a fly ball to left field.
On the mound, Howell would start the matchup and Napier would earn the win in relief. The duo combined to allow 9 hits while whiffing 3 batters. At the plate, Sturgill, Stambaugh, senior Jada Estep, and junior Alyssa Clark each rapped 2 hits. Alice Lloyd won the hitting battle, 12-9, and played error-free ball.