[Softball] Vickers, Ellis strong at the plate in split with Allen

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. – A nine-run fourth inning from Montreat softball forced a 13-0 game one run-rule over Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent Allen University Tuesday evening at Roxy Hines Memorial Softball Field. The Cavs dropped game two 5-4 to split the series with the Yellow Jackets, and they currently stand at 9-7 in league play, 18-18 overall.

"We got complacent in this series. We've got to play our game every time we step on the field and not play down to the level of our opponents," said head coach Heather Maston. "Allen came out ready to play in game two and was able to come out with the win."

Game One: Montreat 13, Allen 0
Ashlyn Vickers led Montreat at the plate in game one, going 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Five other Cavs had multi-hit efforts as well.

The bats exploded for Montreat in the bottom of the fourth as the Cavs recorded eight hits and nine runs in the inning. Aly Woody started things off with a leadoff bunt and made it to third on a stolen base and wild throw, setting Destiny Munoz up for an RBI single to left. Abby Swilley then doubled to left to advance Munoz to third before Vickers knocked her in with a single to center.

Vanessa Bartkewicz, Bree Powell, and Woody all picked up an RBI single before Vickers and Munoz recorded their second of the inning.

The Cavs went three-and-out in the top of the fifth to end the game on a mercy rule.

Charlie Smith and Josie Harris combined for a no-hitter from the circle. Smith got the win, throwing four innings with a strikeout and one walk.

Game Two: Allen 5, Montreat 4
Ronnie Ellis was the star at the plate for the Cavs in game two, finishing 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and RBIs.

Montreat got a pair of runs on the board in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from both Liana Elliot and Kelsey Nolasco.

Ellis' doubles came in the third and fifth innings where she drove in a run with each hit, but the Cavs couldn't recover from Allen's three-run effort in the top if the fifth.

Up Next: The Cavs head to Georgia this weekend for a pair of AAC matchups beginning with a doubleheader at Reinhardt on Saturday and a doubleheader at Brenau on Sunday.