Fayetteville, N.C. -- The University of Lynchburg softball team earned a split on the road to start a long, 10-game road trip Sunday afternoon. The Hornets fell in Game 1 of the double-header 5-4 but earned the split in Game 2 by a score of 3-0.

Senior Sophie Tully contributed the most at the plate for the Hornets as she went 4-for-8 on the day. Tully also scored one of the three runs in the second game of the double-header. Junior Addison Walter also had a solid day for the Hornets going 2-for-5 with two RBI.

The Hornets came out strong in Game 1, and they dominated nearly the entire contest. Freshman Sarah Watts continued her hot start to the season with a double to left field, which allowed graduate student Olivia Herman to score the first run of the game in the top of the 2nd. Walter also picked up a RBI in the inning as she singled up the middle. Gracie Dooley scored on the play which gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead. 

The Monarchs immediately responded in the bottom of the frame when they scored two unearned runs to tie the game up at two. From there, the defenses on both sides showed their strength as the game remained all square until the top of the 6th inning.

Walter forced the Monarch defense to make a play in right field in the 6th. The junior reach on an error by the right fielder and came around to score. Dooley also crossed home on the play regaining the lead for the Hornets 4-2.

Lynchburg took that lead into the bottom of the 7th, but Methodist rallied to plate three runs and hand the Hornets their first loss of the season.

Game 2 exemplified the defensive strength of the Hornets as they earned their first shutout of the season and picked up a 3-0 win.

The offense came from the Tully as she went 3-for-4 at the plate scoring the second run for the Hornets. Walter added a RBI in the top of the 4th which became the decisive run in the shutout. 

Sophomore Kailey Dorcis pitched her first complete game of the season only allowing three hits in her third appearance of the year. Dorcsis earned her third win on the season and improved her record to 3-0. 

The Hornets (5-1) will continue their long road trip when they travel down to the Grand Slam Triangle Classic on March 4th.

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--LYN--