Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAVANNAH, Ga. – Flagler College split its regular season finale Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader at No. 3 (NFCA/Division II Top 25) Armstrong Atlantic State University Saturday afternoon at the Armstrong Softball Field. Armstrong won the opener 3-1 while Flagler rallied to win the second game 8-7.

Flagler concluded its regular season with a 32-16 overall record and a 13-9 mark in the Peach Belt. Flagler clinched the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament (April 20-21) which will be held at Flagler Field. Armstrong slips to 31-6-1 overall and 14-4 in conference play. They are tied for first, in the loss column, with Georgia College (16-4). Those two will meet on Tuesday with the regular season title more than likely on the line.

In the opener, both teams nearly scored all of their runs in the first inning. Christen Moon hit a solo shot for Flagler, but Alexis Mercer hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the first for Armstrong, which would prove to be the game-winning hit.

The Pirates added another run in the sixth for insurance.

The key to the game was the Saints stranding 14 runners on base, which tied a school record that was set on April 2, 2011 against Georgia College.

Flagler left the bases loaded in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings alone. In the seventh, Malloree Escue hit a one-out single and Lauren Bessent followed with a walk. Molly Whittington was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Flagler could not score a run on two chances.

Megan Barnwell (20-3) went the distance to earn the win, scattered seven hits and allowed one run. She walked seven batters and fanned just two.

Shelby Duff singled, doubled and scored a run for Armstrong. Kacie Patterson singled, tripled and had a run batted in.  

Kalyn Loverich (14-7) was the hard-luck loser in the circle for the Saints. She allowed seven hits, three runs, walked two and struck out five.

Whitney Little singled twice while Moon added a double to her home run.

Armstrong 3, Flagler 1 (Apr 13, 2013 at Savannah, Ga.) (Game 1)
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Flagler............. 100 000 0 -  1  7  1      (31-16, 12-9 PBC)
Armstrong........... 200 001 X -  3  7  1      (31-5-1, 14-3 PBC)
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Battery: Flagler - Kalyn Loverich and Molly Whittington. Armstrong - Megan Barnwell and Haley Ellis.
Win-Megan Barnwell(20-3)  Loss-Kalyn Loverich(14-7)  T-2:00  A-212
2B FLG – Christen Moon.
2B ARM – Shelby Duff.
3B ARM – Kacie Patterson.
HR FLG - Christen Moon (5).
HR ARM - Alexis Mercer (10).
Weather: sunny, hot, 80 degrees


Armstrong looked like it was going to rout Flagler after a big six-run first inning. The Pirates batted around with five hits, including a grand slam by Brittany Cooley.

Flagler chipped away and was down 7-3 going in to the top of the fourth. The Saints were the beneficiaries of a pair of critical Pirate mistakes and Moon made them pay with a grand slam of her own. Five runs crossed the plate, all unearned, and Moon's shot gave Flagler an 8-7 lead.

Both pitchers settled in after that, but Armstrong made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Hannah Reppert led off the frame with a single, but the next two Pirates were retired. Cooley drew a walk and then Haley Ellis followed with a walk to load the bases. Patterson popped up to third base to end the game.

Katie Enright (14-6) went the distance for Flagler. She allowed 10 hits, six earned runs, walked four and fanned two.

Bessent went 3-for-4 with a triple while Moon doubled, homered and knocked in four runs.

Duff (7-3) tossed four innings, surrendered 10 hits, three earned runs and walked three for the Pirates.

Andrea Dalton singled twice, scored a run and drove in another. Heather Ellis singled twice for Armstrong.

Flagler will host the Peach Belt Conference Championships starting on Friday (April 20). The Saints will more than likely take on Columbus State University at 6:30 p.m. at Flagler Field. The same two teams met last year, at Columbus. The Lady Cougars won 3-1 in the first year the tournament went to single elimination. The only way Flagler would not play Columbus State is that if the University of North Georgia loses both games in tomorrow's doubleheader against Young Harris College. The twinbill is being played at North Georgia.

Flagler 8, Armstrong 7 (Apr 13, 2013 at Savannah, Ga.) (Game 2)
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Flagler............. 021 500 0 -  8 10  1      (32-16, 13-9 PBC)
Armstrong........... 610 000 0 -  7 10  3      (31-6-1, 14-4 PBC)
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Battery: Flagler - Katie Enright and Molly Whittington. Armstrong - Shelby Duff; Rachel Reynolds(5) and Haley Ellis.
Win-Katie Enright(14-6)  Loss-Shelby Duff(7-3)  T-2:05  A-0
2B FLG – Lauren Bessent.
3B FLG – Christen Moon.
HR FLG - Christen Moon (6).
HR ARM - Alexis Mercer (11); Brittany Cooley (2).