College Softball Finals – Averett 4 – 6, Guilford 2 – 5

GREENSBORO, N.C—Guilford College rallied from decifits in both contests of Sunday afternoon’s doubleheader with Averett University, but fell to the visiting Cougars in both games. Averett picked up the first game victory, 4-2, and the nightcap, 6-5.

The Quakers (3-3) posted a six-run rally in the sixth inning of game one to counter a 4-0 Cougar advantage before Averett (4-0-1) retired the Quakers with the bases loaded. Guilford scored five unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings of game two, forcing Averett game two starting pitcher Jessica Griffin back into the contest to collect the game’s final out.

Taylor Boyd led the Quakers at the plate in the afternoon, hitting 6-for-8 with a double. Caroline Barnette finished 4-for-8 with one RBI during the heart of the Quakers’ three-run seventh inning rally to eat away at the deficit. Marty Wilcox and Steffi Sides added key doubles during the rally to bolster the Quakers in the final inning of game two and put the potential game-winning run at home plate after facing a 6-0 deficit through five and a half innings.

Averett’s Jessica Long went 6-for-7 with two RBI, a double, and two stolen bases to lead the Cougars at the plate. Laura Young went 4-for-5 with a double and a game-two solo home run.

Rebekah Langston (0-1) took the game one loss for the Quakers, throwing three innings and giving up four runs on six hits. Courtney Lackey finished the contest, throwing four scoreless innings and surrendering just three hits. Tyler Miles (Burlington, N.C./Western Alamance/Mars Hill) (2-1) took the game two loss, giving up five runs on nine hits while striking out three in four and one-third innings. Lackey relieved Miles in the fifth inning to throw the final two outs of the frame, giving up just one hit while walking two. Ashley Boteler threw the final two innings, giving up one run on three hits.

Mary Beth Smith (3-0) took the game one complete-game victory, giving up two runs on seven hits, striking out ten, and walking six. Griffin (1-0) took the game two win, throwing a total of six and one-third innings giving up two runs on seven hits, striking out two, and walking three. Amy Hamlett relieved Griffin in the seventh and collected the first two outs while giving up three runs on four hits before Griffin re-entered the contest for the game’s final out.

The Quakers return to action Wednesday, traveling to cross-town rival Greensboro College for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.