Comeback falls short for Greensboro College, season ends for softball

Newport News, Va. — The Greensboro College softball team lost to Susquehanna University, 2-1, on Saturday in an elimination game. The Pride ends its year at 28-15-1.

The Pride trailed 2-0 after SU tallied two runs in the second inning off starter Brittany David (Concord, NC/Northwest).

GC rallied, however, and nearly came from behind like Friday’s 7-3 win over Eastern Mennonite.

“What I love about this team is they believe and never give up,” said GC Head Coach Whitney Gelin. “We again had our chances but things just didn’t go our way at the end.”

Brittany Evans (Creedmoor, NC/South Granville) led off the sixth frame with a single. Kimberly Blust (Winston Salem, NC/Ronald Reagan ) then tried to bunt Evans over and ended up reaching for a single. Cyndel Henson (Landrum, SC/Blue Ridge High School) knocked GC’s third straight hit and scored Evans.

SU reliever Bryn Whitmire then got Brittany Teer (Thomasville, NC/Ledford), Rebecca Pink (Apex, NC/Apex) and Brittany Parsons (Wilkesboro, NC/West Wilkes) to fly out to end the inning with two runners in scoring position.

In GC’s final at bat Haley Hicks reached on a bunt. Megan Oberender (Wingate, MD/Cambridge So. Dorchester) sac bunt attempted was caught by the third baseman Brennan Balfour who then doubled up off the bag Hicks at first. Evans popped up to end the game with two runners on base.

Hannah Pennell (Statesville, NC/West Iredell) pitched four innings of scoreless relief. She struck out four Crusaders and allowed two hits. David took the defeat and dropped to 4-5 on the year.

Crusader starter Sarah Hoffman got the win and improved to 13-5. Whitmire earned her third save.

Both teams had seven hits in the game. Crusader Deanna Anderson went 2-3 and was the only player with multiple hits.