CLERMONT, Fla. - William Peace softball picked up two wins on Thursday at The Spring Games, sweeping a pair of contests to improve to 6-4 on the season.
The Pacers opened the day with a 3-0 victory over the University of Northwestern behind a dominant performance in the circle from senior Reagan Stewart. Stewart tossed a complete game shutout, allowing six hits while striking out eight over seven innings to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard.
Peace broke through in the fourth inning after three scoreless frames. Stewart started the rally with a double before Marissa Fuller drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single. Taylor Byrd followed with a run-scoring single to give the Pacers a 2-0 advantage.
The Pacers added another run in the fifth when Cierra Lear doubled down the right field line and later came around to score on an error to extend the lead to 3-0.
William Peace finished with six hits in the game, with Byrd recording two while Lear, Fuller, Madison Taylor, and Stewart each added a hit.
In the second game of the day, the Pacers used timely hitting and a strong outing in the circle to defeat North Central College 6-3.
North Central scored early to take a 2-0 lead, but the Pacers responded in the third inning when Hannah Cron reached on an error that allowed Sabrina Cox to score and cut the deficit in half.
Peace took control in the fifth inning with a three-run rally. Alli Bordwine drove in a run with a ground out before Isabelle Olson followed with an RBI single. Another run later scored on a wild pitch to give the Pacers a 4-2 lead.
North Central pulled within a run in the sixth, but the Pacers answered in the bottom half of the inning. Lear delivered the key hit with a two-RBI double that scored Cox and Taylor Byrd to extend the lead to 6-3.
Lear led the offense with three hits and two RBI while Cox crossed the plate three times. Olson added an RBI and Bordwine also drove in a run as the Pacers finished with six hits.
Kimberly Bordeaux earned the win in the circle, going the distance and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out seven.
William Peace continues play at The Spring Games on Friday with two more contests in Clermont.
