Another sweep for the Cru
Photo by Kelsey Watson
Kelsey Watson, Staff Writer
The North Greenville Crusader’s softball team grabbed another win in non-conference play as they swept the Mars Hill Lions in a doubleheader on Tuesday February 20 with 2-0 and 8-0 wins.
In game one, NGU pitcher Karley Greene pitched a scoreless game. NGU held the Lions to a 0-0 score until the third inning when Emily Blackwell singled to left field, advanced to second based on a wild pitch, advanced to third and eventually scored off an error by the Lion’s catcher.
Game one would go through another scoreless inning, until the bottom of the fifth, where Blackwell singled to left field, stole second and then was batted in by Karley Green making the score 2-0.
This score would remain constant for the rest of the game, making NGU victorious in game one.
The Cru’s defense held the Lions to another game with no runs, but their offense really started swinging their bats. NGU did not make it out of the first inning without scoring a run. In the bottom of the first inning, Ali Harton doubled to left field, Green reached base on an error by the Mars Hill shortstop allowing Hartin to advance and score, making the score 1-0.
The Crusaders scored two in the bottom of the second inning, with Lexie Gunter advancing on a walk, Jordan Slocum singled to left field, allowing Gunter to advance to second base. Blackwell tripled to center field allowing both Gunter and Slocum to score.
In the bottom of the third, NGU scored another two runs with Green singling to left field and stealing second. Virginia Bishop singled to left field, allowing Green to score. Gunter doubled to center field which scored Bishop.
NGU scored another run in the bottom of the fourth inning with Zealie Kimzey advancing on a walk and having Emily Dawson to run for her, in which she stole second. Blackwell grounded out to the pitcher, but this advanced Dawson to third. Hartin reached base on a fielder’s choice, scoring Dawson and making the score at the end of this inning 6-0.
In the fifth inning, the Cru scored another run. McKenna Pry advanced on a walk and stole second. Rylee Saxon singled to shortstop and advanced Pry to third. Gunter grounded out to second base, but this scored Pry, making the score 7-0.
The Crusaders scored their last run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, where Green singled and then stole second. Bishop grounded out to the shortstop, allowing Green to run to third. Fowler singled to left field, in which Green scored the last run of the game.
Maddie Gore pitched the first innings, gaining her first win of the season. She only allowed two hits. Sydney Clarck threw the last two innings and struck out three.
The starting catcher for the Crusaders, Maddie Stone, said that she was proud of the way her team played against the Lions. “Instead of like playing for ourselves and being selfish and only focusing on our stats, and how I hit or how I feel we came together as a team, and played for one another and overall, just gave the glory to God at the end of the day, because without Him none of this would be possible.”
The Crusaders will also travel to Limestone University for yet another doubleheader on Wednesday, February 28 at 1 p.m..
