Ferrum, Va. -- The 15th-ranked University of Lynchburg softball team battled to a doubleheader split with Ferrum in both teams' Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener Wednesday evening.

The Panthers took Game 1, 3-2, before Lynchburg rebounded to win the nightcap, 10-4.

Junior shortstop Kayla Hugate (Chesterfield, Va.), senior first baseman Mackenzie Chitwood (Ferrum, Va.), and junior second baseman Sarah Commons (Glen Allen, Va.) each drove in three runs on the day for the Hornets.

Chitwood, senior third baseman Taylor Mabry (Bassett, Va.), and freshman designated player Olivia Herman (Westminster, Md.) each homered for Lynchburg.

THE RUNDOWN

Game 1 Final: Ferrum 3, No. 15 Lynchburg 2

Game 2 Final: No. 15 Lynchburg 10, Ferrum 4

Records: Lynchburg (16-4, 1-1 ODAC), Ferrum (11-7, 1-1 ODAC)

Venue: American National Bank Field, Ferrum College, Ferrum, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1

• The Panthers drew first blood on Bayley Cunningham's two-run single in the fourth inning. Lynchburg responded in the top of the fifth thanks to Hugate's single that brought home sophomore center fielder Haylee Wood (Goode, Va.).

• Ferrum's Tori Scott clubbed a solo homer in the sixth to make it 3-1 in the Panthers' favor.

• Lynchburg loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and Hugate brought home the Hornets' second run with an RBI groundout, but the visitors couldn't get the tying run across.

Game 2

• Things started much quicker for Lynchburg in the second contest as Mabry and Herman both smacked solo shots in the first inning. It was Mabry's ODAC-leading seventh long ball of the season, while Herman's was the first of her college career.

• Ferrum responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-2 lead.

• Lynchburg tied the game in the fifth when Herman reached on a Panthers error that scored Chitwood from third, but FC retook the lead in the bottom half by way of an RBI groundout.

• The Hornets exploded for seven runs in the sixth. Hugate doubled home Commons to tie the game, 4-4, and Chitwood broke the tie with a three-run homer to left, her sixth of the year. Lynchburg loaded the bases again following the big fly, and Commons cleared them with a triple to right field to break the game open.

• Junior right-hander Alex Cisar (Sykesville, Md.) earned the complete-game victory for Lynchburg, striking out four and allowing just one earned run.

LOOKING AHEAD

Lynchburg will return home for its ODAC home-opener with No. 24-ranked Randolph-Macon on Saturday, March 23. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Lynchburg will pay homage to our armed forces Saturday with the celebration of Military Appreciation Day.

--LYN--