RALEIGH, NC – The William Peace Softball Team opened USA South play on a high note Sunday afternoon, winning two games against the Hawks of Huntingdon College. The Pacers won the first game in walk-off fashion, 4-3, and then turned around for a 7-1 win in game two.
"We're going to win some ball games if we can play as a team, and that is exactly what we did today," said head coach Charlie Dobbins. "We picked each other up, and we have a lot of power in our lineup, which is a big credit to both of our assistant coaches."
Game One: William Peace 4, Huntingdon 3
WPU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom first, as Heather McLean connected for her first career home run as a Pacer. Caroline Womble singled earlier in the inning and scored on McLean's blast.
Huntingdon tied the game in the third and added another in their next at bat for a 3-2 lead, but Michaela Fox led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot to even the score at three, her second of the year.
Tied in the bottom of the seventh, Casey Taylor drew a walk to start things off before being lifted for a pinch runner, Katelyn McLamb. Ragan Taylor laid down a sac bunt, Lindsey Wiggins singled through the left side, moving McLamb to third, and then Morgan Farmer roped one into the gap for the game winner.
Heather Dindinger started for WPU, but didn't factor into the decision. Lauren Martin (1-0) entered the game in the fifth with two runners on and no outs. She worked out of the jam and earned the win, throwing three perfect innings. The Pacers outhit Huntingdon, 10-5, with Wiggins, Womble, and McLean collecting two apiece.
Katy Messick (2-4) was pinned with the loss, allowing four runs on 10 hits, a walk and five strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Gabby Alcantar went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Game Two: William Peace 7, Huntingdon 1
Just like in game one, WPU (3-4-1, 2-0 USAS) used the long ball to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Farmer blasted her first career shot as a Pacer. Wiggins also scored after leading off the inning with a base hit.
The Pacers added another run in the second. Ragan Taylor reached on a fielder's choice and came home on Wiggins' RBI knock. Huntingdon (3-9, 0-4 USAS) got on the board with a run in the third, but WPU made it a 4-1 game in the bottom half of the inning. Farmer singled and eventually scored on a Brandi Stamey sacrifice fly.
WPU added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth. Womble, Farmer, and Stamey walked to load the bases, and then Morgan Bryant doubled to left, plating Farmer and Stamey. Wiggins homered in the sixth to make it 7-1.
Farmer went 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI and three runs scored, and she was equally impressive on the rubber. Farmer (2-0) picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits and six strikeouts. Wiggins went 3-for-4 at the plate, to go along with two RBI and two runs scored.
Lindsey Selph (0-2) was tacked with the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits in four innings of work. Three different Hawks players tallied one hit apiece.
The WPU Softball team will return to action tomorrow for another conference doubleheader against LaGrange College. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Live Stats will be available for the contest.
Live Stats (game one) – Live Stats (game two)
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