Softball explodes for early offense in split vs Lander

Salisbury, N.C. —- The Catawba College softball team scored eight runs in both of its first two innings against Lander on Tuesday, rolling to a game one win before settling for a spit in the nightcap at Whitley Field in non-conference play.

GAME ONE | Catawba 18, Lander 1 - 5 innings

TEAM STATISTICS

- Catawba out-hit Lander 17-4

- The Catawba Indians recorded seven of eight extra-base hits and two of three homers

- The Bearcats committed three of four errors in the field

- Both teams left five runners on base

- Catawba stole both bases in the game

- Catawba's starter allowed an earned run on four hits and a walk with one strikeouts; Lander's staff allowed 13 earned runs on 17 hits and four walks, striking out two

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Grace Flynn was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base

- Brianna Gallagher went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored

- Savanna Balderston added two hits including a double with two RBI and three runs scored

- Maddy Altiers and Kirstyn Herman homered

- Kate Holland went the full five innings, allowing a run on a late homer in the fifth, allowing just four hits

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST INNING

- Flynn reached on an error and stole second to start the first

- Brendle's RBI double started the scoring

- Gallagher traded places to add another run on the double

- Altiers lifted a two-run homer to left to double the lead, 4-0

- Courtnee Carter scored another on an RBI single to center

 - Balderston added another RBI base knock, as did Flynn, Brendle and Gallagher in their second go-around in the opening innings; Catawba led 8-0

SECOND INNING

- Catawba loaded the bases with one out in the second, looking to do more damage

- Balderston drew a bases-loaded walk before Flynn scored another on an RBI single

- Gallagher scored another on a single through the left side; Kary Hales drove in two more on a double to left

- Herman's three-run, pinch-hit home run pushed the Catawba advantage to 16-0

THIRD INNING

- Micaela Hartman's RBI groundout scored Hayden Poole to start the scoring in the third

- Brianna Herring deposited an RBI single to center to bring the lead to 18-0

FIFTH INNING

- Lander broke the shutout on Regan Hill's leadoff homer to right center in the fifth

GAME TWO | Lander 12, Catawba 4 - 6 innings

TEAM STATISTICS

- Lander out-hit Catawba 14-9

- Both teams hit three extra-base hits; the Bearcats had two of three homers

- Lander had two of three errors in the contest

- The Bearcats left four runners on base; Catawba stranded nine

- Lander recorded three of five stolen bases

- The Bearcat pitchers allowed two runs on nine hits and two walks, striking out two; Catawba's staff allowed 11 earned runs on 14 hits and two walks, striking out two

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Altiers homered again in game two, scoring twice

- Flynn and Jordan McCorkle added multi-hit games

- Holland return to close the final 2.2 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST INNING

- Catawba got a runner on third with no outs, but was picked off

- They still scored in the inning on Hales' RBI double

SECOND INNING

 - Three RBI base hits and a successful double steal of home put the Bearcats up 4-1

THREE INNING

- Lander added two more on a two-out single to extend the lead to 6-1

- Two consecutive Lander errors allowed another run to score for Catawba

- Carter's RBI base hit to left cut the deficit to three

FOURTH INNING

- A pair of two-run homers pushed Lander's advantage to 10-3

FIFTH INNING

- Catawba got a run back on Altiers' solo blast to left

SIXTH INNING

- Lander added two more in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single and a Catawba error

UP NEXT

- Catawba returns to South Atlantic Conference play at Whitley Field on Saturday, hosting Newberry for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.