SAVANNAH, Ga. – No. 22 (NFCA Division II) Armstrong State University swept a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader from Flagler College, 7-0 and 7-4, Wednesday afternoon at the Armstrong Softball Field.
Armstrong State improved to 22-8 overall and 6-2 in the Peach Belt. Flagler dropped to 19-20 overall and 4-12 in conference play.
In the opener, Tori Bates (7-5) and Sierra Peebles combined on a one-hit shutout. Bates tossed six innings and struck out four batters.
The Pirates used a three-run fifth inning to break open a scoreless tie. Michelle Breen hit a one-out single to left, then took second on a walk and scored on Macy Coleman's single up the middle. Jane Trzaska followed Coleman's RBI single with a two-run double to left field.
Hannah Reppert socked a three-run home run in the fourth inning.
Haleigh Corbally (8-7) took the loss in the circle for the Saints. She went the distance and surrendered 10 hits and seven runs. Corbally walked four and struck out seven. She only allowed three hits, all singles, through the first four innings.
Mallory Allen had the lone hit for the Saints, a single up the middle in the fifth inning.
In game two, the Pirates jumped out to a quick lead. They scored three runs in the first as Trzaska hit a two-run single to cap the scoring in the inning.
Armstrong took advantage of a Flagler error and scored four unearned runs in the second to jump out to a 7-0 lead. Logan Harrell belted a grand slam for the Pirates.
Armstrong scored seven runs on just two hits in the first two innings. The Pirates were held hitless the rest of the game.
The Saints got a run back in the third on an RBI single by
Malloree Escue.
Flagler also plated three runs in the seventh.
Garland Evans hit a one-out single to center and took second base on an illegal pitch.
Whitney Woodard drew a walk and
Tori Volz singled up the middle to load the bases. Escue followed by hitting a ground ball to third for a force out, but Evans scored to cut the deficit to 7-2.
Mackenzie Conley hit a single to center to score Volz and then
Brielle Dougherty, who ran for Escue, scored on an errant throw by Armstrong's center fielder and the Saints trailed by three with two outs. Allen flew out to center to end the game.
Trzaska (7-3) picked up the win for the Pirates. She tossed five innings and scattered six hits. Trzaska allowed one run, walked a batter and struck out another. Morgan Duff closed the last two innings.
Harrell collected five runs batted in for the Pirates.
Callie Reed (7-8) took the loss for Flagler. She pitched 1.2 innings, allowed both hits and three earned runs. Reed walked two and struck out two.
Tinsley Smith tossed the final 4.1 innings without allowing a run or a hit. She walked three and fanned three.
Volz went 3-for-4 with a double and she scored a run. Conley singled twice and drove in a run.
Flagler hosts Lander University on Friday (March 25) at 2 p.m. at Flagler Field in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader.
