For immediate release – 3/12/2015 - #315
Hornet Softball Splits Doubleheader with #5 CNU

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Lynchburg College softball team split a doubleheader Thursday with 10th-ranked Christopher Newport University, dropping the first game 6-4 but taking game two 2-1 in eight innings.

The Hornets opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a solo blast to right center off the bat of junior Skylar Seals. CNU plated single runs in the top of the third, fourth and fifth innings to go up 3-1, but a two-run homer by senior Jessi Hall tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. The Captains re-took the lead for good in the top of the seventh with three runs off five singles. Seals drove in another run in the seventh and LC had the tying run at the plate with no outs, but Captain starter Krista Lewis finished what she began with three-straight outs.  

Tori Clarke had three hits for the Captains, and Rachel Shifflett, Scoop Simon, Sabrina Hill and Brittney Walters each had two.

Lynchburg got the offense going in the first inning of the nightcap, as Hall led off with a single. She stole second base and later scored on a Danielle Powell RBI groundout. Tori Clarke hit a home run in the top of the fourth to tie the score, and neither team had a runner cross the plate until extra innings.

CNU had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the eighth, but LC got out of the jam. Freshman hurler Conner English struck out the next Captain and with two outs junior shortstop Nicole Riley ranged deep into the hole to snag a hard hit ball and nailed the runner just before she reached first base.

Lynchburg won the game in the eighth after Powell sacrificed Kayla St. John to third. Senior Amber Ingram belted a hit to deep centerfield to plate Powell and give the Hornets the win.

English worked all eight innings for LC, scattering six hits and one walk with nine strikeouts. Ingram had two hits for Lynchburg while Meagan Jones went 3-3 for CNU (4-3).     

Lynchburg (7-3) travels to Salisbury University this weekend for six scheduled games against five different foes. The Hornets open play at the SU Tournament Friday at 9 a.m. against Rutgers-Camden.

###