Pioneer Softball moves to 6-0

SPARTANBURG, SC- The Lady Pioneer Softball team improved to 6-0 on the season after taking both games against visiting Patrick Henry CC on Sunday. SMC won both games in five innings (11-3 and 13-3). The Pioneers pounded out 31 hits including three more homeruns giving them 11 on the season which leads the country for all NJCAA D1 teams. Freshmen Leah McCoy (China Grove, NC/West Rowan High) and Eliza Long (Woodruff, SC/Woodruff High) earned their first collegiate wins today. 

GAME ONE: (11-3)

PHCC jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning but SMC sent 11 bateers to the plate in the six run second inning. Bailey Pearson (Duncan, SC/Byrnes High) lead off the inning with a double of the center field wall, Carson O' Donald (Greenville, SC/J.L. Mann High) singled, Mary Hart (Harrisburg, NC/Hickory Ridge High) and Kolby Harrison (Simpsonville, SC/J.L. Mann High) hit back to back triples giving SMC a 4-1 lead. Caroline Hill (Inman, SC/Chapman High) homered to left center making the score 6-1. Sophomore Chandler Cook (Hampton, SC/Thomas Heyward Academy) doubled in the third and scored on Hart's fielders choice. SMC added four more runs in the fourth on singles by Hill, Leslie Altman, Maddie Ward (Gaffney, SC/Gaffney High), and doubles by Pearson and Cook.

McCoy (1-0) earned the win working four innings, she allowed three runs on five hits while striking out six. Freshman Kaylee Freeman (Concord, NC/Central Cabarrus) worked the fifth inning and struck out all three batters. 

GAME TWO: (13-3)

 SMC continued to swing hot bats in game two and freshman Eliza Long allowed two runs in four innings. Long only allowed three hits while striking out four, and walking four. Kaylee Freeman allowed one run in the fifth and struck out three hitters.

 SMC scored three runs in the second inning, Kaleigh Busbee hit her first collegiate homerun driving in Carson O' Donald. Chandler Cook hit her third double of the game and scored on Tori Crowley's (McBee, SC/McBee High) single to left. The Pioneers added five more runs in the third inning. Bailey Pearson singled, O' Donald doubled and both scored on Busbee's single to left. Cook and Hart doubled and scored later in the inning. After a quiet fourth inning the Pioneers led 9-3 entering the fifth. Busbee (3-3, 2R, HR, 4 RBI) led off the inning with her third hit on the day, Leah McCoy singled to right to drive in Busbee, Crowley and Hart singled, Morgan Howard (Mt. Pleasant, SC/Wando High) reached on a fielders choice to load the bases. Freshman Leslie Altman hit the first pitch she saw to dead center field for for a walk off grand slam and her third home run on the season. 

SMC will travel to Columbia College on Tuesday for a double header with the Koalas. Game time is 3:00pm.