Skyhawks softball splits with AAC foe Reinhardt
WALESKA, Ga. (April 12, 2022) – The Point University softball team traveled to Reinhardt University on Tuesday for its final away doubleheader of the season and split with the Eagles, falling in game one 4-3 before coming back and winning game two 4-3 in extra innings.
With Tuesday's split, the Skyhawks are now 28-16 (18-8 AAC), and the Eagles are 24-13 (14-6 AAC).
Long ball dooms Skyhawks in game one
Despite the Skyhawks taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Eagles quickly responded in the bottom of the frame with a 3-run home run by Jill Martinet. Two innings later, Reinhardt's Emily Loveless would secure what would end up being the game-winning run with a solo home run. Point would attempt to make a late-game comeback as the Skyhawks scored one run in the top of the fifth off an error and a run in the sixth following an RBI double from Chelsea Parker, but the Skyhawks were unable to catch up to Reinhardt's 4-3 lead.
Point recorded six hits with Devin Foster, Haley Lyner, Asia Jones, Taylor Knight, Meagan Pildner, and Parker, each recording one. Mary Burnham suffered the loss, going six innings, giving up eight hits, four runs (all earned), walking two, and striking out three.
Point bounces back in extra innings
Point once again was the first team on the scoreboard in the second half of Tuesday's doubleheader, as a sacrifice fly from Jones allowed Brianna Plocharczyk to score. In the bottom of the second, Reinhardt scored two runs to take the lead 2-1, but an RBI single to left field from Lyner would even the score 2-2 in the top of the fifth. The Skyhawks would hold the Eagles from scoring in the bottom of the frame, and neither team would score in the sixth or seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
It would be another two scoreless innings before the Skyhawks pushed two runs across in the top of the 10th. Plocharczyk started the inning on second, and Lyner started the inning with a single to center field, scoring Plocharczyk to take the lead. Gabrielle Riley would extend Point's lead with a double that scored Lyner and the Skyhawks would take a 4-2 lead entering the bottom of the inning. The Eagles would push one run across in the bottom of the 10th and threaten a walk-off victory with bases loaded and one out, but Point was able to get the final two outs of the game with a pop up to the shortstop and a fly out to right field to earn the victory.
Lyner led Point's offense, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Riley followed, going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Foster, Plocharczyk, and Parker each recorded a hit. Katelyn Jiles earned her 11th win of the season, pitching all 10 innings, giving up nine hits, three runs (two earned), walking two, and striking out two.
Up next
The Skyhawks will close out their Appalachian Athletic Conference schedule tomorrow as they host Bryan College in West Point, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 3 p.m.