Crusaders find inspiration through adversity
Brayden Allen, Staff Writer
February marked the beginning of the season for Crusaders softball, and the team has already faced a series of challenges to get things going.
After dropping the first two games in a hard-fought opening series against Anderson, North Greenville picked up their first win of the season in the first game of a doubleheader series against Coker.
Senior Brianna McCrae and Redshirt Junior Claire Gilmore would each score home runs while Freshman Lexis Wilkinson recorded three hits and three stolen bases. Senior Morgan Hatchell struck out six batters to toss her first no-hitter of the season as the Crusaders downed the Cobras nine to zero.
Things would only get more difficult for the Crusaders as the team lost seven straight on the road before returning to Tigerville.
“I would say we haven’t played our best ball,” said Junior Hailey Wells. “There’s been a lot of times where just everything hasn’t come together.”
Wells said that the team has not let the tough stretch of games get the best of them. The team has continued to work and persevere through the challenges ahead.
“I think the team has done a good job of keeping a positive mindset and not getting down on ourselves,” Wells said. “Our scores don’t show it but we’ve fought until the last outs when we are down by a good bit.”
North Greenville would return home hoping to bounce back against a familiar opponent in Carolina University, a team the Crusaders have beaten six straight times in the past three years.
Senior Jenna Hewes led things off in game one with a two run double in the first inning to put North Greenville up two to zero. Senior Joise Reed and Senior Grayce Black each singled in the third, scoring three to make the score five to two.
After adding a run in the fourth, the Crusaders added two more in the fifth off the bat of Gilmore and Wilkinson. Freshman Mackenzie Livingston doubled in sixth scoring one and Freshman Kamryn Walker would bat in two giving North Greenville the 12-3 victory.
Wells would be leaned upon in game two. She would pitch a complete game in the process holding the Bruins to three hits, striking out three.
North Greenville scored only two runs in the game, the third inning off the bat of Hewes, scoring McCrae and Gilmore.
“I think Saturday was the first time everything came together,” Wells said. “Our defense did an excellent job at getting outs and making zero errors while producing runs. I think we can improve by striking first in a game and not falling behind as well as making the simple plays.”
The Crusaders look to continue to improve as they look forward to hosting Queens University on Feb. 22.
