GREENWOOD, S.C. – Flagler College capitalized on a fielding error to score the game-winning run in extra innings against Lander University in the second game of its Peach Belt Conference doubleheader sweep at Doug Spears Field on Saturday afternoon. Flagler ran away with the early game, 9-0.
Flagler improved its overall record to 22-15 and 5-3 in conference play. Lander fell to 10-20 overall and dropped its conference mark to 2-6.
Megan Miller and
Whitney Woodard led off the ninth with back-to-back singles. Lander recorded two pop outs, but an error in left field off the bat of
Maddy Murphy allowed Miller to score the go-ahead run.
Natalie Murphy tacked on an insurance run with a single to knock in Woodard and extend the lead to 6-4.
The Bearcats put up a four-spot in the first to give starting pitcher Mackenzie Ferguson a cushion, but they got shut out the remainder of the game. Chandler Carey's RBI single to center put the first run on the board. Casey Kent doubled home a pair to increase the lead to 4-0.
After five scoreless frames, the Saints countered with a four-run sixth to tie the game.
Whitney Woodard and
Alli-Ann Bigale stole second and third after the pair walked and singled, respectively.
Mackenzie Conley knocked Woodard in on a single. Later,
Garland Evans' two-run homer evened the contest at 4-4.
Katelynn Smith (4-6) picked up the win for the Saints after firing 6.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Smith did not walk a batter, fanned three and retired 10-of-the-first-11 hitters she faced.
Callie Reed allowed four runs in her start through 2.1 innings.
Ferguson (5-10) took the loss. She gave up six runs on 11 hits over nine frames.
In the first game, Conley's two-out solo blast in the first inning was all the offense the Saints needed. They added two runs in the third and exploded for six in the fourth to run-rule the Bearcats after five innings.
Woodard jump-started a big fourth inning for Flagler with a two-RBI double to score Miller and Evans.
Maddy Murphy came up in bases-loaded spot and plated two runs on a single. Pinch runner
Genevieve Mangini came in on a hit by
Natalie Murphy and
Tatum Morgan continued the hit parade and knocked in
Maddy Murphy for Flager's ninth run.
Maddy Murphy led the charge with a team-high two hits, including a double and three RBI.
Megan Miller proved to be a spark from the ninth-spot in the lineup. She tallied two hits and scored twice.
Destiny Clyde went 2-for-2 for the Bearcats from the leadoff spot.
Woodard stole three bases on Saturday to increase her season total to 30. She only needs four more to set the new single-season record that was established by
Lauren Bessent (33) in 2014.
Ally Marcano (17-4) shut Lander out and allowed just two hits to earn the win. She allowed a single during the first at bat of the game, but settled in to hold the Bearcats to one hit the remainder of the contest. Marcano is tied for first in the nation for wins in NCAA Division II.
Brianna Surrento (3-7) suffered the loss and surrendered eight runs on five hits over 3.2 innings.
Flagler will continue its road trip with a doubleheader against Armstrong State University on Sunday (March 19) at 1 p.m. in Savannah, Georgia.
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