MISENHEIMER, N.C. --Senior Kali Morton dominated on Thursday, punching out eight William Peace hitters over five innings of work to help power the No. 13 Pfeiffer Falcons over the Pacers 9-1 in a five inning game in the first game of the USA South Softball Tournament at Jack Ingram Field.
In addition to her eight strikeouts, Morton (20-1) tossed five innings, giving up one run on four hits and walking none for Pfeiffer (39-2).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Pfeiffer scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from junior Gracie Griffin.
The Pacers failed to push any runs across before the Falcons offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Pfeiffer brought home a pair, with one run driven in by junior Kenzi Lyall's single, which brought the score to 5-0 in favor of the Falcons.
William Peace narrowed Pfeiffer's lead to 5-1 before the Falcons stretched the advantage to 9-1 in the fourth inning. The Falcons bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a one-run double off the bat of freshman Emily Dickerson. The score remained 9-1 for the rest of the game, as Pfeiffer coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Morton struck out eight Pacers hitters.
» Pfeiffer's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Pfeiffer took a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Falcons out-hit the Pacers at an 8-4 clip.
» Pfeiffer went 3-for-6 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Pfeiffer pitchers limited William Peace to just 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
» Pfeiffer pitchers faced 20 William Peace hitters in the game, allowing two ground balls and five fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Falcons drew six walks from William Peace pitching.
» Griffin led the Falcons at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI.
» William Peace was led offensively by Cierra Lear, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
ON DECK
With the win, Pfeiffer advances to the second round of the USA South Tournament and will play fourth-seeded Mary Baldwin University at Noon on Friday, May 3. MBU downed Southern Virginia in the second game of the day on Thursday and William Peace then eliminated Southern Virginia in the third game of the day.
The loser of the Pfeiffer-Mary Baldwin game will take on William Peace in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m.
