Conway, Ark. – The Centenary softball team remained perfect on the season with a doubleheader sweep over the Hendrix College Warriors on Thursday in non-conference play at Warrior Softball Field, winning game one 7-2 and taking the second game, 9-1 in six innings.
The Ladies (4-0) are off to their best start in the division III era (2012-present) and have won eight of 10 games overall dating back to last season. Their current 4-0 record marks the Ladies' best start to a season since beginning the 2018 season 6-1. The Warriors, who were opening their season on Thursday, dropped to 0-2.
Centenary was back in action for the first time since opening its season with a road doubleheader sweep of Texas-Dallas on Feb. 6 as the month of February has been repeatedly interrupted by weather causing multiple cancellations and postponements.
"Good pitching and timely hitting are essential for success, and we had both today," said Ladies' head coach Mark Suire. "I love the fight in this team and their ability to overcome adversity on and off the field."
"We've still got some things that we need to clean up before conference play begins, but today was another step in the right direction."
Game 1 recap:
The Ladies showed no signs of rust from their recent long layoff as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring all four runs with two outs. Freshman right fielder Mackenzie Cox (Alexandria, La.) singled up the middle but was erased on a fielder's choice by sophomore center fielder Mallory Stout (Trinity, Texas) who then stole second. Catcher Erin Lewis (Leesville, La.) then walked and first baseman Brittney Broussard (Rayne, La.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Junior Kirstyn Gomez (Deer Park, Texas) then reached on an error by the Warriors' right fielder Kaleigh Smith and advanced to second on the throw as all three runners scored. Sophomore left fielder Kaylea Patridge (Las Vegas, Nev.) then reached on another Hendrix error, scoring Gomez for a 4-0 Centenary lead.
Hendrix cut the Ladies' lead in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, scoring a pair of unearned runs. The game remained that way until the top of the sixth. Patridge led off with a single up the middle and fellow sophomore third baseman Britlyn Garrett (Stonewall, La.) reached on a bunt single, as Patridge moved to third. The speedy Garrett then stole second base and freshman second baseman Mackenzie Clark (Upland, Calif.) drove in Patridge with a bunt single and moving Garrett to third. Shortstop Jaymee Wilkinson (Brazoria, Texas) then delivered an RBI single and later scored on another Hendrix throwing error for a 7-2 lead.
The seven runs were more than enough for freshman pitcher Hailee Leger (Belle Chasse, La.) who dazzled again for the Ladies in the circle. Leger, named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 8 following her impressive collegiate debut, allowed just two unearned runs and a pair of hits in six innings with no walks and six strikeouts, throwing 74 pitches. Gomez relieved her and walked one, allowing no runs and no hits in her one inning of work.
Leger tossed a complete-game shutout over UT-Dallas on Feb. 6 in her Ladies' debut as she struck out seven, did not walk a batter, and allowed seven hits as she threw 98 pitches, 73 for strikes in game one of a doubleheader. She then came on in relief in game two and picked up the save as she pitched the final three innings and allowed just one hit with one strikeout. Leger finished the day allowing just eight hits while striking out eight without allowing a run, posting a 0.00 ERA in 10 innings of work. Leger has now pitched 16 innings this season and has yet to allow an earned run. She has yielded just four hits with no walks and 12 strikeouts in a stellar start to her college career.
Hailey Johnston took the loss in the circle for the Warriors as she went five innings and allowed seven runs, just two earned, on eight hits with two walks and no strikeouts. Skyler Teague relieved her and pitched the final two innings, allowing two hits and a walk. Cox led the Ladies with three hits and Clark had two. Centenary had 10 hits, drew three walks, and did not strike out. Lewis and Clark each had doubles and the Ladies stole three bases. Johnston and shortstop Aubrey Lee had the Warriors' only hits.
Game 2 recap:
Centenary again jumped out to a big lead in game two, scoring five runs in the top of the second inning. The Ladies added three more in the top of the fifth and a single run in the sixth to cruise to a 9-1 victory in six innings.
Junior Ashley Hunter (Benton, La.) improved to 2-0 on the season as she went the distance in game two, allowing one earned run and five hits in six innings of work. She walked one and struck out four, throwing 72 pitches. Grace Bryant took the loss for the Warriors as she allowed eight runs, one earned, and five hits in five innings. She walked three and struck out six, throwing 99 pitches.
Hendrix' defense hurt them in game two as it did in the first game, as the Warriors committed three more errors. They mustered just one run on five hits for the game while the Ladies had seven hits and did not commit an error in game two. Centenary finished the day with 16 runs and 17 hits in 13 innings of play. Hendrix scored three total runs, had seven hits, and committed six errors.
Patridge went 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Ladies' offense in game two. Broussard and Gomez combined to go 2-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Lee and Savannah Shaw each had multi-hit games for the Warriors.
Clark, Cox, and Patridge each recorded the Ladies' first multi-hit efforts of the season on Thursday with the freshmen duo of Clark and Cox doing so in game one and Patridge in game two. Cox and Patridge are tied for the team lead in hits with four while Gomez, Stout, and Wilkinson each have three. Centenary's pitching has been outstanding so far this season, allowing a single earned run in 27 innings. Ladies' pitchers have yielded just 20 total hits with only two walks and 18 strikeouts.
The Ladies will next face Millsaps in a three-game neutral-site weekend series in Arnaudville, La. playing a single game on Friday at 8 p.m. and will then face off in a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m.
The Ladies are scheduled to face the East Texas Baptist University Tigers in a doubleheader on Monday, March 1 at 5 and 7 p.m. in Marshall, Texas and will play host to Austin College March 6-7 in their SCAC opening series.
A link to the Ladies' complete season schedule can be found here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/sball/2020-21/schedule.
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