Softball sweeps Montreat on senior day
WEST POINT, Ga. (April 9, 2022) – The Point University softball team hosted Montreat College Saturday afternoon in an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader and swept the Cavaliers, winning game one 10-0 in five innings and winning game two 5-4.
In between games, Point honored their senior members, Chelsea Parker and Meagan Pildner.
Game one: Point 10, Montreat 0
Point's offense jumped out to a quick lead after holding the Cavaliers scoreless in the top of the first. Haley Lyner started Point's rally in the bottom of the inning with a 3-run home run. Pildner extended Point's lead out to four in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly from Meagan Pildner that scored Asia Jones.
In the bottom of the second, Jones would extend Point's lead with a 2-RBI double to right center (6-0). The Skyhawks would add a run in the third, following a single to left field from Lyner that scored Parker (7-0). Point would add on three runs in the fourth, following a solo homer from Taylor Knight and a double to right field from Brianna Plocharczyk that scored Devin Foster and Parker (10-0). The Skyhawks held Montreat scoreless in the top of the fifth to earn the run-rule victory.
Foster, Lyner and Parker were perfect at the plate, with Lyner and Parker going 3-for-3 and Foster going 2-for-2. Foster scored three times and walked twice, Lyner drove in four runs and scored twice and Parker scored twice. Plocharczyk was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Jones, Gabrielle Riley and Knight each had a hit.
Mary Burnham earned her ninth win of the season as she went five innings and scattered four hits.
Game two: Point 5, Montreat 4
Point's explosive offense carried over to game two, as Lyner drove in Foster off an RBI double to center field and then scored off an RBI double to center from Riley. The Skyhawks would hold its lead over the next three innings until Montreat's Jayda Treaster connected for a two-run home run in the top of the fifth.
Point would respond in the bottom of the inning following a triple from Lyner that drove in Plocharczyk and Pildner (4-2). An inning later, Parker would drive in what would end up being the game-winning run as she connected for an RBI single to center field that allowed Pildner to score.
In the top of the seventh, the Cavaliers would attempt a late-game comeback, scoring two runs to bring the score back within one, but Ashlynn Hamm would come in for relief and get the final out of the game.
Both teams recorded seven hits apiece. Lyner led the Skyhawks with two hits and two RBIs. Riley and Parker each went 1-for-3 with an RBI each. Plocharczyk, Pildner and McKensie Barnes each recorded a hit.
Katelyn Jiles earned her 10th win of the season, going 6.2 innings, giving up six hits, four runs (all earned), walking two and striking out two. Hamm earned her fourth save of the season, pitching the final out of the game.
Up next, the Skyhawks complete the regular season with two AAC doubleheaders next week. First, Point will travel to face in-state rivals Reinhardt on Tuesday, April 12, at 3 & 5 p.m. Next, the Skyhawks will host Bryan on Thursday, April 14, at 2 & 4 p.m. The Skyhawks enter next week 27-15 (17-7 AAC).
