Softball earns top seed for tournament, breaks school record for wins with sweep of Louisburg

SPARTANBURG, SC., SMC swept the four game series against defending Region X Tournament Champion Louisburg College this weekend. SMC improved to 45-7 overall and 12-0 in region play, broke the school record (2012- 44-11) for wins in a season.  

The Pioneers had 35 hits including 12 doubles and three home runs in the four game series. 

GAME ONE- SMC 7   Louisburg 2

Bailey Pearson tossed a four hitter and struck out nine in seven innings and also drove in two runs. Kaleigh Busbee had two doubles and three runs batted in and freshman Brooke Palmer went 2-4. SMC trailed 2-0 in the fourth inning before scoring seven runs. 

GAME TWO-  SMC 8   Louisburg  5

SMC took game two of Saturday's double header 8-5. Freshman Kayla Price earned the win and fellow freshman Teagan Crosby picked up the save. Maddie Labrador went 2-4 with 2 runs socred and an rbi while Pearson was 2-3 with two runs batted in. Kaleigh Busbee continued her hot hitting by going 2-3. 

GAME THREE- SMC 7  Louisburg 6

The Pioneers had to claw out of a huge hole to survive the Hurricanes in Sunday's first game. Louisburg took a 6-1 lead after the top of the third. Bailey Pearson (1-2, R, 3RBI, HR) hit a two run home run to cut the lead to 6-3. Mary Hart tied things up in the the fourth with a three run bomb. The Pioneers defense went to work in the fifth as they turned a triple play, Pearson struck out a Hurricane hitter, Natassja Hatcher threw out a runner trying to steal second and Breanna Hagerty nailed the runner at the plate trying to score. Hart (1-3, 3 Rbi, HR walked to lead off the sixth and scored on Leslie Altman's (3-4- 2 doubles) double to take a 7-6 lead. Pearson earned the win in relief (5IP, 1R, 1H, 4K)

GAME FOUR - SMC 5   Louisburg 3

Game four was just as tight as the first three games between the two teams. Teagan Crosby improved to 9-0 on the season by tossing six innings and allowing three runs. Kayla Price earned the save with a scoreless seventh inning. Maddie Labrador went 3-4 with 2 runs scored, Pearson(2-4) hit her seventh home run of the year and Mary Hart drove in the go ahead run with a two out, two run double in the sixth inning. 

SMC will play a home and away series against USC Salkehatchie this coming weekend. The Pioneers travel to Allendale, SC on Saturday and return home for Sophomore on Sunday.