College Softball Finals – Guilford 9-11, Peace 5-0

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore Ashley Boteler (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) hit two home runs and drove in six in Guilford College’s 9-5 softball win over visiting Peace College Wednesday. The Quakers (3-1) completed the sweep with an 11-0 victory in the thanks to Jessica Burcham (Lexington, N.C./South Davidson) three-hit shutout. Guilford has won seven straight games from Peace and nine of the last 10.

In addition to notching career highs for homers and runs batted in (RBI), Boteler (1-0) also earned her first pitching decision with five-and-a-third innings of four-hit pitching. She relieved starter Brittany Donathan (Archdale, N.C./Trinity) in the second inning after the Pacers (4-6) scored three times and still had the bases loaded. Boteler (1-0) retired cleanup hitter Lauren Martin (Pittsboro, N.C./Northwood) to end the threat and smacked her second homer one inning later to open a 6-3 Guilford advantage. Boteler belted hit a three-run homer in the Quakers’ four-run first.

Cynthia Hayes (Seagrove, N.C./Southwestern Randolph) had three hits and scored twice for Guilford. Lindsey Haver (Raleigh, N.C./Enloe) and Kendra Yearick (West Jefferson, N.C./Ashe County) both had two hits in defeat.

Burcham (2-1) was the story in game two as she scattered three hits and fanned six in her school-record 14th career shutout. Guilford’s offense scored all 11 runs in the first two innings on 10 hits and five Pacers’ errors. Only two runs were earned. Boteler and Autumn Yoder (Friedens, N.C/Somerset) both had two hits for the Quakers. Yoder and Sarah Cutright (Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley) both had two RBI.

Guilford visits Averett University Sunday (2/26) at 1:00 p.m.