SMC and Brenau Split a Doubleheader

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Spartanburg Methodist College softball team split a midweek doubleheader with Brenau, taking game one 2-1 before falling 5-0 in game two. With the split, the Pioneers move to 25-10 overall and 8-8 in the AAC, while the Tigers stand at 22-12 overall and 13-5 in conference play.

In game one, the Pioneers overcame an early 1-0 deficit to secure the win behind timely hitting. Saleena Rollins delivered the decisive blow with an RBI single in the third inning. Earlier in the frame, Carson McCowan sparked the rally with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Stuckey.

SMC manufactured its first run in the opening inning. Stuckey led off with a single up the middle, moved to second on a Rollins bunt, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Lauren Ballew drove her in with an RBI single.

In the circle, Bailey Kiser turned in another dominant performance. The right-hander allowed just three hits while throwing 101 pitches, 74 for strikes, en route to her 14th complete game of the season. Kiser improved to 14-4 on the year, striking out five and retiring the final 14 batters she faced.

In game two, Brenau jumped out early with three runs in the first inning and never looked back, adding single runs in the fourth and sixth to secure a 5-0 victory.

The Pioneers threatened throughout, putting at least one runner on base in each of the first four innings and again in the seventh. In the final frame, Grace Thomas drew a two-out walk and Jacie Ross followed with a single to left, but a groundout ended the rally.

Five different Pioneers recorded hits in the loss.

SMC will return to action on Wednesday, traveling to face AAC leader Reinhardt in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.