Softball bounces back to earn split with Union in AAC action
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. (March 26, 2022) – After a tough 6-5 loss in game one, the Point University softball team bounced back in dominating fashion in game two, winning 8-0, to split with Union College Saturday afternoon in Appalachian Athletic Conference play.
Point moves to 22-12 (12-4 AAC) with the split.
Game one: Point- 5, Union- 6
The Skyhawks jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, beginning with a home run in the first from Haley Lyner and an error in the second drove home Taylor Knight. Union cut Point's lead in half in the bottom of the second, but an RBI-single from Gabrielle Riley would score Asia Jones and help extend Point's lead back out to two (3-1). The Bulldogs would answer again in the bottom of the fourth with an infield RBI single, making the score 3-2.
Point would extend its lead out to three runs in the top of the fifth, following a double to right center from Jones that scored Lyner and a sacrifice fly from Knight that scored Jones (5-2). In the final frame, the Skyhawks entered the bottom of the seventh leading by three, but the Bulldogs rallied back, starting with a sacrifice fly and ending the game with a 3-run home run to win the game with a walk-off.
Both the Bulldogs and Skyhawks accounted for seven hits apiece, with Lyner and Jones leading Point with two hits each. Mary Burnham got the start, going 6.0 innings, giving up five hits, three runs (two earned), walking three and striking out six. Ashlynn Hamm came in to throw the final inning and suffered the loss.
Of the Skyhawks' 12 losses this season, seven have been from one-run games.
Game two: Point- 8, Union- 0
In game two, the Skyhawks' offense opened the scoring up in the top of the first with a triple from Lyner that scored Brianna Plocharczyk and a 2-run home run from Jones. The Skyhawks would connect for two more home runs, the first coming in the top of the fourth from Knight and the second coming in the top of the fifth from Riley that scored Jones and Plocharczyk. Point would score its final run in the top of the seventh with an RBI single from Knight to score Lyner.
Point's defense would keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard, led by Katelyn Jiles, who tossed a complete game, giving up only three hits and striking out three. The Skyhawks' offense combined for 12 hits, with Lyner and Knight leading the way with three hits apiece. Knight recorded two RBIs and Lyner recorded one. Plocharczyk and Pildner collected two hits each and Jones and Riley recorded a hit. Jones accounted for two runs and Riley accounted for three.
Up next
The Skyhawks will close out the month of March with an AAC doubleheader at home against CIU on Tuesday, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 2 p.m.