RIDGELAND, Miss.—The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs split four games in the Belhaven Elite Softball Classic this weekend, losing twice to host Belhaven but winning over LSU-Alexandria and Lindenwood.
In Friday's opener, host Belhaven (17-1) scored four unearned runs in the fourth inning to break a 2-2 tie to pull away for a 7-4 victory.
The Blazers had taken a two-run lead in the first inning, but
Casey King (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS) started what would be a good weekend at the plate with a two-run single in the bottom of the second to tie the game. The Blazers capitalized on a one-out error in the fourth inning to load the bases. With two out, Britney Webb hit a three-run triple, and she scored on a passed ball to put Belhaven ahead 6-2.
The Lady Bucs halved the lead in the fifth as
Brooke Davis (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS) drew a one-out walk and scored on a
Jessica Ambers (Collierville, Tenn./Collierville HS) double. Ambers came home on an
Alana Kramer (Jackson, Tenn./North Side HS) sacrifice fly, but the Lady Bucs stranded two in the fifth and one in the sixth as they couldn't score again.
In the nightcap Friday, the Lady Bucs (6-8) won a 12-9 slugfest over LSU-Alexandria (1-16).
The Lady Bucs scored six in the top of the first on five walks and three singles, including two-run singles from King and Davis. The Generals cut the lead back to one run as they scored four in the bottom of the first and one in the second.
The Lady Bucs regained control as they pushed three across in the third inning on a single, two walks, and three hit batters. Each team scored twice in the fourth. The Lady Bucs scored once in the sixth, and LSUA set the final margin with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
King and
Kaylea Brewer (Pulaski, Tenn./Giles County HS) each scored three runs as they went 2-for-3.
Kathleen Nelson (Bartlett, Tenn./Bolton HS) also scored twice. Ambers and
Emily Schmidt (Olive Branch, Miss./Center Hill HS) had two hits each. Davis drove in three runs, while King and Schmidt drove in two each.
In Saturday's first game, the Lady Bucs capitalized on 12 hits and four Lindenwood (3-4) errors en route to an 8-2 victory.
The Lions struck first with two runs in the top of the first, but the Lady Bucs took the lead for good with three unearned second-inning runs. Nelson reached on an error and stole second to start the inning, and Schmidt singled her home. After Davis reached on an error, Ambers hit a sacrifice fly and
Alyse Brewer (Florence, Ala./Florence HS) hit an RBI single to put CBU in front.
The Lady Bucs added a pair in the third as Kaylea Brewer singled and moved to third as Nelson reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt. Brewer stole home, and Nelson scored on a double by King.
Back-to-back triples by Nelson and King led to two runs in the fourth inning, and King hit an RBI single to score Kaylea Brewer in the sixth.
King went 3-for-4 with three runs, while Nelson scored three times. Ambers, Kramer, and Kaylea Brewer collected two hits each, while Brewer scored twice.
Michelle McEachron (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon HS) picked up her first win, shutting out Lindenwood in six and two-third innings on four hits and two walks. She struck out four in relief of starter
Leigh Ann Henry (Nashville, Tenn./David Lipscomb HS).
In the tournament's final game Saturday, the Lady Bucs scored first, but Belhaven scored 11 in a row to pull away for the victory.
The Lady Bucs opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as Kramer singled to lead off the inning. Kaylea Brewer hit an RBI triple and scored on a
Lauren Dorsett (Mufreesboro, Tenn./Blackman HS) single.
Belhaven scored every inning the rest of the way, picking up two runs in the second and third innings, one run in the fourth, and three in the fifth and sixth to end the game.
Kramer went 2-for-2 in the game.
The Lady Bucs return to the field Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. as they visit North Alabama for a doubleheader. The Lady Bucs open GSC play Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against Henderson State.
