Softball Has A Strong Season Opener

The Lady Pioneers traveled to Crest High School in Shelby, NC to take on the Cleveland Community College Yetis. 

Game 1: With Caitlyn On The Mound, SMC Shuts Out Cleveland 

• Caitlyn Cox threw a shutout to lead SMC past Cleveland C.C. 9-0 on Saturday. The Pioneers got on the board in the first inning. Elle Parent grounded out, scoring one run. SMC tallied three runs in the second inning. Izzy Duron had an RBI double in the inning to lead the run-scoring.
• One bright spot for Cleveland C.C. was a double by Haynes in the first inning.
• Cox was on the rubber for Spartanburg Methodist College. Cox went five innings, allowing zero runs on two hits, striking out 12, and walking one.
• Dover was in the pitcher's circle for Cleveland C.C.. Dover allowed ten hits and nine runs over five innings, striking out six.
• The Pioners smacked one home run on the day. Cox went yard in the first inning.
• SMC tallied ten hits in the game. Samantha Carver, Cox, and Duron all managed multiple hits. The Lady Pioneers didn't commit a single error in the field. Elle Parent had a great day behind the plate with 12 putouts. 

Game 2: Bailee New Drives In Five To SMC Victory Over Cleveland C.C.

• Bailee New was clutch at the plate with ducks on the pond on Saturday, driving in five on three hits to lead SMC on a 14-3 win on Saturday. New drove in runs on a double in the second and a home run in the fourth.
• Lady Pioneers got on the board in the first inning. Samantha Carver grounded out, scoring the runner on third. They pulled away for good with six runs in the second inning. In the second Clevelands pitcher induced Ty Gist to hit into a fielder's choice, but allowing one run to score, New doubled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring three runs, Carver singled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run, and Gracie Cobb doubled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring one run.
• SMC tallied seven runs in the fourth inning. The rally was led by singles from Caitlyn Cox, Reine Wood, and Abbe
• Miller, a home run by New, a groundout by Gist, and by Hannah Maddox.
• Carver led things off on the rubber for SMC. The righty went three innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out three and walking one. Madie Andrews came in for the last two innings to continue the shutdown and end the game in 5 innings. Andrews only saw three batters in the bottom of the 5th and struck out all three. 
• Crocker was in the circle for Cleveland C.C.. The pitcher allowed 11 hits and 12 runs over three and a third innings, walking one. B Dover threw one and two-thirds innings in relief.
• Spartanburg Methodist College saw the ball well, racking up 15 hits in the game. New, Cox, Carver, Miller, Cobb, and Wood all managed multiple hits for the Lady Pioneers. Cox and New each collected three hits to lead SMC. The Pioneers again didn't commit a single error in the field.

"Overall we did great! The bats were hot and the pitchers did an awesome job hitting spots and keeping the runners off the bases. Even when Cleveland got the hits they did, we came back and got more to have cushion. I am very pleased with how the day went and I am excited to see what these girls are capable of doing this season!"

The Pioneers will travel to Lander University on Wednesday to take on their JV team at 1 and 3 pm. 

#ROLLNEERS