RALEIGH, N.C. – The Sweet Briar College softball team (6-6, 0-0 ODAC) drew even on day one of its Spring Break trip, besting the Methodist University Monarch (4-7, 0-0 USA South), 2-0, before falling the North Carolina Wesleyan University Battling Bishops (5-4-1, 0-0 USA South), 10-2.
Game One
In the first game of the day, Sweet Briar used timely offense and a dominant outing in the circle to earn a 2–0 win over Methodist.
After a scoreless first two innings, Sweet Briar broke through in the third. With one out, senior
Kaylie Hudson (Lynchburg, Va.) ripped a double down the left-field line, and junior
Ambyre Taylor (Arrington, Va.) followed with a single to left to put runners on the corners, prompting junior
Ruby Hite (Clarksville, Va.) to enter as a pinch runner for Taylor. Hite promptly stole second, and Peterson cashed in the inning's big chance with a grounder to third that brought Hudson home for a 1–0 lead.
Sweet Briar added key insurance in the sixth. Hudson opened the inning with her second double of the day to left, and Taylor followed again with a single, this time to center, pushing Hudson to third. On the next sequence, Taylor took second and Hudson raced home on a wild pitch to make it 2–0, and Peterson kept the pressure on with a double to left that put runners at second and third before three straight outs ended the threat. The Vixens went quietly in the seventh, but their two runs proved more than enough.
In the circle, Taylor delivered a complete-game gem for Sweet Briar. She scattered just one hit over seven shutout innings, walked three, and struck out 14 Methodist batters while throwing 111 pitches, facing only 25 hitters and never allowing a run. Her dominance kept Methodist off the board all afternoon and secured her fourth win of the season.
Game Two
N.C. Wesleyan kept Sweet Briar off the board through the first five innings, and the Vixens' push in the sixth accounted for all of their scoring in a 10–2 final at Walnut Creek.
After five quiet frames offensively, Sweet Briar finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. First-year
Lexie Aiman (Stafford, Va.) started the rally with a single to center, and pinch-hitter first-year
Pepper Maranto (Jetersville, Va.) followed with a single to left to put two runners aboard. With two outs after a flyout and a fielder's choice, junior
Ciara Nauful (Forest, Va.) came through with an RBI single, scoring Aiman from third to put Sweet Briar on the board.
Moments later, junior
Jordan Dorrier (Buckingham, Va.) added another run with a single to right field, driving in sophomore
Emily Cottingham (Chesterfield, Va.) and cutting into the deficit before the inning closed with the score 10–2.
Highlights
- Taylor once again struck out her career-high 14 batters in the first game, bringing her season strikeout total to an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) leading 58.
- Both of Hudson's hits in game one were doubles.
- Peterson recorded her first career strikeout against N.C. Wesleyan.
- Aiman's single in game two marks her first career hit.
What's Next
The Vixens are set for two more games tomorrow against NYU and Christopher Newport.
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