Peace Softball Defeats Southern Virginia

Raleigh, NC- The Peace softball team continued its homerun hitting spree today as they defeated Southern Virginia University (NAIA) 10-2 and 24-3. Coming into today’s double-header, Peace had hit a whopping 26 homeruns as a team and finished today with 4, putting them at 30 overall in their young season.

In game one, both teams were held scoreless until the top of the third inning when SVU scored on an RBI single by Liz Housley. Peace would answer in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Lauren Pleasant. Peace then held SVU scoreless in the top of the fourth inning and with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, Kristen Crandall hit a grand slam to put Peace up 5-1. Joanie Blevins then scored another run on an error by SVU third baseman, as the Pacers headed into the top of the fifth ahead 6-1. In the top of the fifth with two outs and the bases loaded, Mary Ellen Bunting scored on an error by Peace catcher Brittany Coffee. Peace escaped the inning as pitcher Brooke Sykes stuck out the next batter and Peace maintained a 6-2 lead. The bottom of the fifth and the top of the sixth were uneventful for both teams but in the bottom of the sixth, Peace seemed to take over on a three run double by Kristyn Trogdon, putting the Pacers up 9-2. On a sacrifice fly by Brittany Coffee, Kristyn Trogdon scored to end game one, as the Pacers won 10-2. Brooke Sykes was credited with the win, moving her season record to 2-0.

The Pacers were at it again in game two, as Joanie Blevins hit a homerun in the bottom of the first for 2 RBI’s. Ashley Stansbury picked up the next RBI with a double hit deep into centerfield. With Peace up 3-0, Meghan Melchiorre singled to left field and drove in Stansbury for yet another run. Melchiorre reached home on an error by the SVU short stop to put the Pacers up 5-0. Summer Evans hit a triple to bring in Crandall and Seagroves heading into the second inning up 7-0. In the bottom of the second, Peace added five more runs on RBI singles by Stansbury, Evans and Melchoirre. Ashley Weathersbee homered for two runs as the Pacers went ahead 12-0. Peace added two more runs in the bottom of the third, holding SVU scoreless once again in the top of the inning. Weathersbee singled for an RBI, and Tyler Riggan flew out to left field but still recorded the RBI as Holly Braswell tagged up and crossed the plate pushing the Peace lead to 14. In the top of the fourth inning, lead off hitter Summer Evans, took the first pitch and sent it over the center field fence for yet another homerun. Holly Braswell singled for an RBI and then scored on an error by SVU first baseman. Seagroves singled for an RBI. As the lineup started over, Evans singled for an RBI and Blevins doubled to bring in 2 RBI’s. Kristyn Trogdon tripled to bring in two more and Braswell singled for the last RBI of the inning. Peace scored 10 runs to go up 24-0. SVU was given one more chance but the deficit was too much as they could only muster three runs and the game ended with Peace dominating SVU 24-3. Tyler Riggan picked up the win from the mound, her first on the season.

Holly Braswell went 6-9 on the day batting .667 with 2 RBI's. Kristyn Trogdon went 4-6 also batting .667 with 5 RBI's and Kenni Seagroves went 5-8 batting .625. With the win, Peace advanced to 11-5 overall and will be in action again tomorrow, hosting Wilson College (PA) at Wachovia Athletic Park with the first pitch scheduled to be throw at 2:00 pm.