RALEIGH, NC – The William Peace Softball Team clinched the no. 2 seed in next weekend's USA South Conference Tournament with a split against third place Ferrum this afternoon. WPU took game one, 9-2, but the Pacers let game two slip away in the seventh, as the Panthers came back to win, 5-2.
The Pacers finish the regular season 18-13-1 overall with a 15-7 mark in conference play. They will open up conference tournament play in Rocky Mount, N.C. this Friday against the seventh-seeded Lions of Piedmont College. First pitch is at 11:00 a.m.
Game One: William Peace 9, Ferrum 2
WPU scored three runs in the second and broke the game open with six more in the fourth, as senior Lauren Martin (7-2) went the distance, allowing only two runs on six hits for a win in the final regular season start of her career.
The Pacers rallied with two down in the second, as Morgan Bryant doubled to left, Ragan Taylor beat out an infield single and Michelle Sheldon-Gregorio walked to load the bases. Lindsey Wiggins cleared the bases with her seventh double of the year and ranks fourth in the USA South with 40 RBIs.
WPU loaded them up again in the sixth with Taylor, Gregorio and Wiggins occupying the bases. Morgan Farmer brought Gregorio home with a base hit to center, and then Poteat singled through the left side to plate Womble and Wiggins. Brandi Stamey came up next and emptied the bases, smacking a three-run shot down the left field line for her second dinger of the year.
Wiggins finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Stamey went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Bryant also added two hits and scored a run.
Amanda Roberts (6-5) was pinned with the loss, giving up eight runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings of work. Six different Panthers registered a hit apiece at the plate.
Game Two: Ferrum 5, William Peace 2
The Pacers clung to a 2-0 lead after putting up a pair of runs in the second, but Ferrum (22-14, 15-9 USAS) struck for five runs in their final at bat, coming back for the win and earning themselves the no. three seed in next weekend's conference tournament.
Senior Heather Dindinger (4-5) made her final regular season start as a Pacer. Dindinger pitched exceptionally well through six, but she was tacked with the loss, giving up five runs on six hits and four strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Bryant continues to swing a hot stick, as she finished the game 3-for-3 with a run scored after Gregorio drover her in with a bunt single in the second. Womble chipped in with a pair of hits, while Casey Taylor also recorded a hit and scored the Pacers' other run on a sac fly from Wiggins.
Aiyana Lew (2-3) pitched three innings of relief for the win, holding WPU scoreless on five hits. Lindsley Slover lasted only four innings in the circle after getting the start, but she did turn in a 3-for-3 outing at the dish, scoring a run and driving in another.
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