The William Peace University softball team split the opening day of the Triangle Grand Slam Classic (1-1) as they fell to Arcadia University (10-0) and defeated McDaniel College (3-2) in 8 innings.

THE BASICS:

• Final score:

  • Game One: William Peace 0, Arcadia 10

  • Game Two: William Peace 3, McDaniel 2

• Records: William Peace (2-3)

• Location: Raleigh, NC

HOW IT HAPPENED

GAME ONE

Arcadia would get out to an early (1-0) lead as they took advantage in the bottom of the first. The Pacers were unable to get the bats going, and Arcadia would add another run in the bottom of the second to lead (2-0). Abbi Colclough and Emily Puckett would both single at the top of the third, but the Pacers would leave three on base as Arcadia shut down the offense. The Knights would have a huge fourth inning as they scored 8 runs to lead (10-0). The Pacers could not find a break through and would fall (10-0) after five innings.

GAME TWO

Game two would prove to be a battle between pitchers Danielle Hunt and K. Waller as neither team was able to put any runs on the board early in the game. At the top of the third, Emily Puckett and Taylor Ferguson would single to get on base, but the Pacers were unable to bring them home. McDaniel would nearly score in the bottom of the 4th, but the Danielle Hunt would hold the McDaniel  as she got out of the inning with a strikeout. We would head into extra innings as both pitchers continued their fantastic outings. It would not be until the 8th inning when the Pacers when an Emily Puckett RBI single drove home Claire Boaz and put the Pacers ahead (1-0). William Peace would add two more runs after in the 8th as Abbi Colclough scored on a passed ball and Emily Puckett scored on an error by the shortstop. McDaniel would answer in the bottom of the 8th as a Persinger double would bring home a run and cut the lead to two. Persinger would later score on a passed ball to bring McDaniel within one. Danielle Hunt would close the door on a possible comeback as E. Michael grounded out to the shortstop to end the game and the Pacers sealed a (3-2) win.

PACER TOP PERFORMERS

• Abbi Colclough was 2 for 3 in game one.

• Danielle Hunt pitched 7.2 innings to go along with 10 strikeouts as she earned the win in game two.

FOR THE FOES

• K. Schwind pitched 5 innings for Arcadia in game one as she allowed no runs and recorded 7 strikeouts.

• B. Ward was 2 for 2 at the plate for Arcadia as she also tallied 2 RBIs.

NEXT GAME

The Pacers close out the Grandslam Triangle Softball Classic on Sunday, March 1 with a doubleheader. The first game at 12:00pm will see the Pacers faceoff with Kean University followed by a 2:30pm game against Randolph-Macon.

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