Lynchburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg's softball team opened the 2020 season Saturday with a doubleheader split against William Peace. The 12th-ranked Hornets took Game 1 by a 2-1 score and fell, 1-0, in the nightcap.

Carol Oberhelman led the Hornets (1-1) at the plate in the opener, going 2-for-2 and driving in both Lynchburg runs with a second-inning single that drove in Jordyne Vance and Haylee Wood. Oberhelman's knock put Lynchburg ahead 2-0, but William Peace retaliated with a fourth-inning rally.

The Pacers (2-2) made use of a leadoff single that Lauren Conway brought home with a one-out double, but junior Kayley Cox entered in relief and pitched out of the jam without further damage.

Cox pitched the final 3 ⅔ innings of the ballgame, striking out three without allowing a run, to earn the victory.

In Game 2, Michelle Lehan took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the Hornets, but walks bit the right-hander. She issued a free pass to Candice Smith to lead off the sixth, and Smith scored on a one-out single by Kristina Mojica, WPU's first base hit of the ballgame.

Lehan dodged four more Pacers hits without allowing another run, but the Lynchburg offense couldn't get going either. She took the hard-luck loss in a complete-game, five-hit effort.

On the other side, Danielle Hunt, Kiley Martinez, and McKenzie Ward combined on the shutout for the Pacers.

Sarah Commons and Olivia Herman each had two hits for Lynchburg.

The Hornets are back in action on Moon Field Sunday with a noon doubleheader against Methodist.

--LYN--