Pride Knocks Off Pacers in Round One of USA South Tournament

Burlington, NC—The Pride of Greensboro College knocked off the Pacers of Peace College today in round one of the USA South’s conference softball tournament at Springwood Park, Burlington, NC Greensboro will meet the winner between league leader Shenandoah University and Averett University at Noon Saturday, while the Pacers must face Mary Baldwin College later today in the 3:00 game.  Greensboro’s Olivia McPherson improved her record to 4-3 moving her team to 22-15-2 overall.  Ashley Stansbury took the loss (12-9) dropping Peace to 25-16.

Peace started the scoring with a four-hit, two-run inning in the second.  Joanie Blevins advanced on a single to short and moved to second off a sacrifice from Holly Braswell.  Right fielder Lindsey Moore pushed Blevins to third ready to score from a sacrifice fly by Tiffany DeLeone.  Morgan Weathington singled to move Moore into scoring position for Courtney Long’s RBI-single to left center.  Jessica Hogan drew a walk and Stansbury ended the frame fouling out to third.

Greensboro countered in the bottom of the third starting with a single from Ryeleigh Loftin who moved to second off a bunt from Jenee Johnson.  Shortstop Jessica Clack kept the rally going with a single through the left side loading the bases.  Two Pacer errors allowed the Pride to tie the score 2-2.

Both teams remained quiet until Greensboro rallied once again in the fifth to take control of the game.   Kendra Leghart singled to move Clack to second.  Clack advanced to first after being hit by the pitch.  McPherson doubled to left scoring both runners.  Meagan Knight grounded out to move McPherson’s pinch runner Cyndel Hinson into scoring position.  Ashley Pennington hit the first of two RBI triples of the inning for the Pride.  Nikki Wilborn hit the second one to right center to give Greensboro a four-run lead. 

Greensboro maintained control in the field taking out the first three batters for Peace in the top of the sixth.  In the bottom of the frame the Pride added two more hits starting with another single from Clack who advanced to second on the play.  Clack scored off an RBI single from Knight to finish off Peace.

Poindexter (pictured) led Wesleyan offensively, going 3-3 with four RBI.

The Bishops (18-17) will face second-seeded Christopher Newport at 1:00 pm. The Squirrels (3-35) will take on the loser of game three between fourth-seeded Greensboro and fifth-seed Peace at 3:00 pm in an elimination game.