RALEIGH, NC – The William Peace Softball Team extended their winning streak to six games with a sweep of Methodist this afternoon. The Pacers erased a two run deficit in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Monarchs in game one, 4-3. WPU came from behind again in game two for an 8-6 win.
Game One: William Peace 4, Methodist 3 – 8 innings
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, WPU tied the game and went on to win in extras, 4-3.
Methodist hit a pair of homeruns to jump ahead 3-0 in the top of the fourth, but the Pacers got a run back in the bottom half of the inning. Morgan Farmer singled to left, advanced to third on Shay Poteat's single, and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Morgan Bryant.
The Pacers came up empty after leaving them loaded in the fifth and sixth, but they came through when it mattered most in the seventh.
Brandi Stamey led things off with a walk followed by another base hit from Farmer, putting them on second and third after the left fielder bobbled it. Mclean grounded out to plate Stamey, and then Farmer came home to tie it up on another base knock from Poteat.
With an automatic runner placed on second base in the eighth, WPU escaped thetop half of the inning unscathed. Michaela Fox started on second for the Pacers and scored on Lindsey Wiggins' game winner.
Farmer (6-4) earned the win, giving up three runs on five hits, three walks and six strikeouts in seven innings of work. Lauren Martin pitched the seventh inning without giving up any hits before Farmer was reentered into the lineup to hit.
At the plate, Wiggins and Poteat both went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Farmer went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Caroline Womble also went 2-for-4.
Nicole Heinrich (5-6) was pinned with loss going the distance for the Monarchs. Lindsay Tippet and Kristen Baily both homered for Methodist in the fourth.
Game Two: William Peace 8, Methodist 6
The Monarchs scored one in the top of the first, but WPU (16-9-1, 13-3 USAS) put a pair across the plate in both the first and second innings for an early 4-1 lead.
Wiggins reached on an error and scored on Farmer's RBI single to center. Womble singled after Wiggins and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Poteat. In the second, Wiggins doubled home Casey Taylor and Michelle Sheldon-Gregorio. Taylor reached base on an error and Gregorio walked.
Methodist (14-16, 8-8 USAS) got one back in the fourth and added four more in the fifth to go ahead, 6-4. WPU tied it up in the bottom half of the fifth though, as Bryant blasted her first career homerun, which also scored Farmer.
Wiggins singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the sixth and Stamey hit a bullet at the shortstop too hot to handle. Poteat knocked both of them in with a single up the middle for an 8-6 lead, and then Martin closed it out in the top of the seventh.
Martin (5-1) picked up the win, giving up only one run on three hits and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief. Heather Dindinger got the start and gave up four runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Every Pacer in the starting lineup notched at least one hit. Wiggins had another 2-for-4 game in addition to a pair of RBI and runs scored. Womble went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Stamey went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Poteat and Bryant recorded one hit apiece and combined for five RBI.
Jordan Pietrolaj (0-1) was tacked with the loss, surrendering a pair of runs on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings of relief. Tippett, Baily and Heather Williams each collected two hits apiece.
The WPU Softball Team returns to action tomorrow against league leading Averett for their annual Strikeout Cancer Doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free and 100% of the proceeds benefit the Pretty in Pink Foundation.
Video Coverage and Live Stats will be available for those who can't make it.
Sat. vs Averett - Video - Live Stats (Gm. 1) - Live Stats (Gm. 2)
Visit www.gopeacepacers.org to stay up to date with William Peace Athletics or via social media: Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and watch us on YouTube.
