Berea, KY- The softball diamond at the Berea College Sports Complex saw some more action today as the softball team returned to the field to play a doubleheader. After two wins yesterday against Hiwasse College, Berea was looking to go 4-0 for the weekend as they welcomed the Covenant College Scots, a future USA South Athletic Conference opponent.
Covenant scored four runs in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead as the Mountaineers came to the plate. With two outs in the inning, Riley Lanham singled to get on base and Mercedes Stanfield drew a walk, moving Lanham to second. The runners were left on base though as the next batter struck out, ending the inning. Through a scoreless second and top of the third inning, Berea got on the board in the bottom half of the third inning. Two consecutive singles from Madison Stanfield and Abby Nash put runners on first and second base. A sacrifice bunt from Hannah Carter put both runners in scoring position as Stanfield and Nash moved to second and third base, respectively. Lanham's double brought Ma. Stanfield in for the first run of the game for the Mountaineers, making the score 4-1. In the next inning, Berea cut the deficit in half, as Markiara Smith hit a home run, moving the score to 4-2. The visiting Scots score six runs over the next two innings and the Mountaineers were unable to chip anymore into the lead, falling 10-2 in six innings. Lanham was a perfect 3-3 from the plate for Berea finishing with a double and one RBI.
In the second game, Covenant scored eight runs in the first three half innings to lead 8-0 as the Mountaineers came up to bat in the bottom of the third inning. Chelsey Parsons began the inning at the plate for Berea, getting on first base via an error by the opposing shortstop. Ma. Stanfield's single moved Parsons to second before Abby Nash's single brought Parsons home for the first run of the game, changing the score to 8-1. A ground out by Carter brought Ma. Stanfield around the bases, cutting the deficit to six runs as the teams went to the fourth inning. The offense for the Mountaineers was unable to produce the runs needed to extend the game, as two hits over the remainder of the game from Kourtney Parker and Parsons were left stranded on base and the Scots won the second game of the doublehead 14-2. Nash, Parker, Parsons and Ma. Stanfield each finished with a hit while Nash and Carter finished with a RBI each.
Berea gets an extended break from game action before returning to the Berea College Sports Complex on Saturday, February 18th. The team will host the defending USCAA Softball National Champions Saint Mary of the Woods College for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM with the second game to follow shortly after.