DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Flagler College softball team won their way out of elimination in day two of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament in Dahlonega, Georgia. The Saints fell 9-6 to University of North Georgia, putting them in danger of elimination, but were able to survive after beating USC Aiken 7-3.
UNG were the first on the board, putting up five runs in the bottom of the second. A three-RBI homer ended that inning. The Saints retaliated in the top of the third with a homer of their own.
Rylee Konowalchuk drew a walk to start the inning but was out at second on a fielder's choice that allowed
Jordan Moss to reach first. The two runs were brought in on a home run to right field by
Paige Maseda to cut the Nighthawks lead 5-2. North Georgia added another run in the bottom of the third and extended the lead even further in the bottom of the fifth, making it 8-2, then 9-2 in the bottom of the sixth. The Saints added two more runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run from
Kiersten James, but it was not enough and fell 9-4.
Flagler went on to face USC Aiken in their elimination game later in the day. The Saints were the first to score with two runs coming on four hits in the bottom of the third. Moss started things off with a homer over center field to score the first run. Two outs and
Emily Ricci reached first on a fielder's choice that saw
Sydney Stewart out. A single from
Hannah Smith advanced Ricci to third and then score on a single to left center from
Cassidy Crump.
The Saints added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. A double from Konowalchuk got things started and she was able to score on a double from Maseda. A wild pitch advanced Maseda to third and eventually score on an infield single by Stewart, putting the Saints up 4-0. In the bottom of the fifth, Crump scored on a sacrifice fly by
Mackenzie Smith.
The Pacers were able to get on the board in the top of the sixth, putting up one run on a homer. Flagler immediately retaliated with two more, the first on a solo homer by Maseda to start off the bottom of the sixth. An error by the Pacers shortstop allowed Stewart to reach first and
Hannah Smith drew a walk to put two runners on base. Crump connected on a double to left center to score
Reese Snipes, who came in to pinch run for Stewart, making it 7-1 for the Saints. The Pacers tacked on two more in the top of the seventh, but Flagler proved strong and finished in a 7-3 victory to survive and advance.
Rachel Hester (7-5) earned the win for the Saints after pitching 5.1 innings and facing 24 batters.
Madelyn Wise finished the game out, pitching 1.2 innings and facing 9 batters.
Flagler will face University of North Georgia again on Sunday (April 28) at 12 p.m. to determine who moves on to the championship series.
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