#5 Peace College mercies #10 Mary Baldwin to Advance

Burlington, NC—The Pacers of Peace College eliminated the Fighting Squirrels of Mary Baldwin in round two of the USA South’s softball tournament 10-2.  Peace (26-16) advances to play league leader Shenandoah University (28-11) Saturday after the Hornets were upset in round one by Averett University.  

Pacer Stephanie Monette improves to 14-5 from the circle with seven hits, two earned runs, and four strikeouts.  Amber Ralston ends her season 2-29 in the loss.    

Peace started early with a four-run inning in the first.  Leadoff batter Courtney Long singled up the middle.  Jessica Hogan reached on an error advancing Long to third. Hogan stole second scoring Long on the throw.  Ashley Stansbury drew a walk and scored along with Hogan off a double from left fielder Kasie Moore.  Lindsey Moore scored her twin sister Kasie on a fielder’s choice to short.  Tiffany DeLeone flied out to center field to end the inning.

Mary Baldwin’s Karen Potter started off the second with a single through the left side advancing a base on a wild pitch from Monette.  Taylor Barela singled to the left to set up Potter to score off an RBI single from Carolyn Majchszak.  The Pacers took out the next two batters to move to the dugout.

Peace continued pushed the lead to six scoring three runs in the bottom of the second.  Catcher Kristyn Trogdon led off with a single and scored when Hogan reached on a Mary Baldwin error.  K Moore scored Long after grounding out up the middle.  Hogan scored before Joanie Blevins was run down at first by the Squirrels.  

Mary Baldwin’s Ralston doubled deep to left field at the top of the third to try and rally the Squirrels.  She scored off a second double to left by Christie Hamilton.  Pacer shortstop ended the scoring threat after a sneaky tag at second.  Monette struck out Garika Williams to end the frame.

Peace sealed the win with three more runs in the bottom of the third.  Holly Braswell reached on the first of two Squirrel errors in the inning.  L Moore moved Braswell to second with a single up the middle.  DeLeone earned an RBI single scoring Moore.  Hogan sacrificed DeLeone to third who scored off a throwing error.  Stansbury ended the offense grounding out to third.

Mary Baldwin earned two singles in the fourth from Barela and Rhonda Collins but could not cut the Pacer lead.  Peace secured the mercy win holding the Squirrels scoreless in the top of the fifth as well.