Pacers Hold Off Monarchs

Burlington, NC—The Peace College softball team advanced into the winners’ bracket in the USA South conference tournament after a 6-5 win over Methodist University in today’s opening round.  The Pacer defense held off a five-run Monarch rally in the seventh inning to seal the win.

Peace’s Ashley Stansbury (13-8) earned the win for the Pacers allowing 10 hits, 3 runs earned with 1 walk and 1 strikeout.  Jessica Pridgen (4-4) took the loss for the Monarchs allowing seven hits, two runs earned with two walks and 1 strikeout.

Both teams remained scoreless until the Pacers opened with a three-run lead in the bottom of three.  Catcher Melissa Williams advanced on a walk and her pinch runner Allison Gilmore moved to second on a sacrifice form Morgan Weathington.  Second baseman Amanda Beach doubled down the right field line to score Gilmore and move Courtney Long, who singled on a bunt, to third.  After Stansbury reached on an outfield error, the Monarchs closed out the inning.

Methodist earned two hits over the next two innings but could not score.  Jody Eyler doubled to left center in the fourth but was left on base.  Shortstop Sara Poling picked up her second hit of the game in the top of five and Cortney Kerns singled to left.

In the bottom of the frame, Peace completed another three-run inning on three hits and one Monarch error to push the lead to six.

The Monarch’s catcher Darci Martin unleashed a five-hit, five-run rally in the top of seven with a homerun to left.  Singles from Pridgen, pinch hitter Alex Bass, and Kerns loaded the bases, and Stansbury walked in the second run.  Kayla Talbert earned an RBI-single to right field.  Weathington and Beach allowed two more on two Pacer errors before Stansbury struck out Martin and center fielder Tiffany DeLeone completed the third out on a fly ball catch.

Methodist will face Mary Baldwin College in the nightcap.  The Pacers play the winner of today’s 1:00 pm Christopher Newport/Averett University game tomorrow beginning at Noon.  Link HERE for USA South tournament pairings, directions, and results.  See you on the sidelines!