College Softball Finals – Guilford 8–7, Methodist 1–2

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Guilford College’s Makayla Carver tallied five hits over Wednesday evening’s doubleheader with Methodist University and struck out ten batters in game two as the Quakers claimed the sweep. the Quakers claimed game one, 8-1, and took the nightcap, 7-2.

Natalie Conrad collected her first RBI of the day, capping a two-run rally in the top of the second inning. Conrad’s single came with two outs. Makayla Carver collected a one-out RBI single in the fourth frame as part of the Quakers two-hit inning. The Quakers posted a five-run rally in the final inning of the contest, all with two outs, as Conrad connected on a three-run double for her second hit of the game. Anna Wolfe followed with a RBI-double of her own as Makayla Crawford drew a walk to put game one out of reach.

Conrad continued the barrage of the Monarchs in game two as she opened the second contest with a single up the middle. Shelby Helms capped the three-run rally in the first inning with a single to center field. Conrad drew two more runs in the top of the fifth frame off of a pitcher’s throwing error to first base, sparking a four-run Quakers’ rally. A second error in the inning brought home the next run as Helms hit a ground ball to the shortstop. Sarbina Moreno brought Helms home two at-bats later to push the Quakers to a 7-0 lead.

Both of Methodist’s runs came with one out in each inning. The Monarchs posted runs in the bottom half of the fifth and the seventh innings, but the Quakers cushion held to complete the sweep.

Conrad finished three-for-eight with five RBI. Moreno led in hits for Guilford with Carver, finishing the doubleheader five-for-nine while Carver also posted a five-for-nine effort.

Chloe Hespeler led the Monarchs with a three-for-seven effort with one RBI.

Courtney Lackey (3-0) struck out six batters in a complete-game victory for the Quakers in game one. Carver (1-1) fanned ten in a complete-game victory in game two.

Ally Thomas (0-2) took the game one loss for Methodist, giving up five runs on 15 hits. Hespeler (0-1) took the game two loss in a five-inning effort.

The Quakers return home Saturday, hosting Averett University for a 1 p.m doubleheader.