[Softball] Softball Falls to Belmont Abbey

LAURINBURG, N.C. - The St. Andrews University Softball team dropped both ends of their opening day series at home on Friday vs. Div. II foe Belmont Abbey College (NC).

Belmont took game one 9-0 and game two 6-5 holding off a SA rally.

Game 1: BAC 9, SAU 0 (5)

Lady Knights' sophomore starting pitcher, Brennan Broadaway (SO/Oakboro, NC) (0-1), threw 3 innings allowing 5 hits and 6 runs (just 1 earned) with no walks and 3 strikeouts while junior reliever Nancy Amos (JR/Huntersville, NC) came in to throw the final two innings allowing one hit and one earned run.

However, early errors proved too much to overcome for the Knights as they fell 9-0 as BAC scored 7 of them off SAU errors while SAU could tally just 3 hits off the BAC starter.

Broadaway led the Knights with a hit and two stolen bases while outfielders Cassie Fortner (FR/Lexington, NC) and Rachel Swartwood (JR/Wilmington, NC) also knocked singles. Swartwood reached base twice as she walked as well.

Game 2: BAC 6, SAU 5

SAU got out to a quick 1-0 lead in game two on a Lexi Dawson (JR/Garland, NC) double that drove in junior infielder Nikki Santiago (JR/Gainesville, FL) before BAC rallied for three runs to lead 3-1 after four innings. They held that lead until the sixth when they padded their lead by scoring 3 needed insurance runs, two of which on a home run. SAU then put together a quality rally in the bottom of the 7th scoring four runs to fall just short at 6-5.

Fortner led the Knights with 2 hits including a double while Broadaway and SS Ashlyn Dial (SO/Laurinburg, NC) each drove in two runs in the big 7th inning. Broadaway's double came in the 7th as well in the defeat. SAU was only outhit 8-6 while Swartwood, Broadaway, and Fortner recorded hits in each game. Recording stolen bases was Fortner, Broadaway and Santiago as well.

Game two starter, sophomore S.K. Brown (SO/Huntersville, NC) picked up the loss as she tossed six innings allowing 7 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) on 3 walks and 3 Ks while Amos also threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

SAU is now 0-2 on the season while BAC is 2-0.

SAU will remain home on Saturday to host another Div. II foe, Limestone College (S.C.) in a 1:00 PM DH.