Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Quentin M. Reed-Sports Information Graduate Assistant
NEWBERRY, SC – In day two of the Newberry Tournament, the Pfeiffer Falcons (2-2) split their two final games versus the Newberry Wolves (2-1) and the Claflin Panthers (0-3). After rebounding from a loss in game one, Pfeiffer rallied to win 5-1 in eight innings with a strong pitching performance from Kennedy Lester.
In the second game of the day, Pfeiffer starter Lester rebounded from a rough outing to pitch a complete game as she allowed just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts.
In the top of the eighth, Chandler Walker was placed on second as she ended the seventh inning as the last Falcon's batter.
Walker advanced to third base on a wild pitch from Tiara Norman. After a Jessica Jackson strikeout, Vada Blue Sherrill step to the plate and singled to left field that scoring Jackson from third. As Sherrill has done late in the two previous games, she stole second to put herself in scoring position for the go ahead run. Pinch hitter Emma Tuttle singled through the right side to advance Sherrill to third base.
Later in the top half of the eighth inning and with runners on second and third, Jaclyn Boever virtually put the game out of reach for Claflin on a three run homerun to left field and giving the Falcons a 5-0 lead.
Lester gave up one late run in the bottom of the eighth inning but the damage was done as the Falcons picked up the 5-1 win.
In the early game, Newberry struck first in the bottom of the first as Natalie Willis singled to left field and the next batter Mallory Gerndt homered off of starter Sam Jarmusch.
After consecutive Pfeiffer errors, starting pitcher Maude McCourry doubled down the left field line, plating two more for a 4-0 lead, and sending Falcon Head Coach Monte Sherrill out of the dugout to replace his starter, Jarmusch.
With runners on first and third, Sam Robilliard singled up the middle off of reliever Kiana Millsaps scoring McCourry for the 5-0 lead.
Down by seven runs after four innings and Pfeiffer remained scoreless through five innings of play when Falcon leadoff hitter Vada Blue Sherrill singled through the left side to start the top of the sixth inning.
After Sherrill stole second and the next two batters failed to advance her, Sherrill took a delayed steal of third and scored on an errant throw by the pitcher McCourry, giving Pfeiffer their first score of the game.
After Falcon relief pitcher Kaitlin MacMillan held Newberry to a scoreless sixth inning, Pfeiffer came alive in the top of the seventh inning as they loaded the bases on walks from Wolves reliever, Whitney Hailey.
Emma Tuttle singled up the middle scoring Bailey Sherrill and Walker. Both Vada Sherrill and Tuttle each advanced on a throwing error by the centerfielder Gerdnt.
After the Wolves went to the bullpen for Devon Morrison, Falcon's batter Rachel Crowder singled up the middle scoring Sherrill but Crowder attempted to score but was thrown out at home plate to end the game, 7-4.
On the weekend, Sophomore Emma Tuttle went 6-for-13 with five runs scored and two runs batted in.
The Falcons return to action on Wednesday, February 10th as they travel to Catawba for a doubleheader slated to begin at 1 p.m.
