Strong pitching, along with an offensive second game paces Greensboro to a sweep over Ferrum
Ferrum, VA – Senior Kassie Simmons (Gibsonville, NC/Eastern Guilford High School) and Junior Lauren Engel (Huntersville, NC) each pitched complete games as the Greensboro College Softball team earned a Saturday sweep, on the road, against the Panthers by scores of 2-1 and 11-2.
Game One
This game was a pitching duel as Simmons and her counterpart controlled the plate, making it difficult for both teams to get any offense generated. However, in the third inning, Ferrum was able to strike first to take the lead, 1-0. It would stay that way until the sixth inning, when Junior Alexis Sox (Burlington, NC) hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Freshman Raven Taylor (Laurel Hill, NC), which tied the game. In the Pride’s final at bat, Senior Brooke Kinley (Lexington, NC) smacked a double down the left field line, allowing Sophomore M’Kenzie Davis (Greensboro, NC) to cross the plate, giving Greensboro the lead, and that is all they would need as they took the first game, 2-1.
Kinley led the Pride going 3-3 on the day with a double and Simmons recorded five strikeouts, while only giving up five hits and one run.
Game Two
The bats came alive in the second game, as Simmons and Sophomore Kelsey Craven (Ramseur, NC) hit two-RBI doubles in the first inning and that was followed by four runs in the second inning with RBI’s from Junior Olivia Hudson (Sanford, NC), Senior Kailey Walker (Eden, NC), and two from Simmons after hitting a triple. The Panthers answered with two runs to trim the lead to 6-2, but Greensboro answered for four straight runs again to seal the game, as Junior Ivy Ray (Thomasville, NC) got the rally started and finished it off in the fifth and final inning with an RBI walk to secure the win, 11-2.
The Pride were led by Simmons who finished 3-4 with 3 RBI’s and Kinley, who also finished 3-4, while batting in two runs. On the mound, Engel only allowed two runs while giving up just six hits.
Greensboro will return to action on Tuesday March 21st as they travel back up to Virginia to face Averett University in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00pm