CU softball takes two from Augustana
Mar. 27—Cumberland softball team took on Augustana College in a non-conference doubleheader Monday and swept the Vikings, winning 2-1 and 11-5 at Billy Dee Ross Stadium.
Leading off the bottom of the first inning, Anna Lay ran out an infield single and did as she has done all season long; put immediate pressure on the pitcher. After taking the first pitch Lay took off, stealing second base with ease.
Just after that she took advantage of lapse in judgment from the Vikings, running to third base, but with no fielder there to catch the throw from the catcher she was able to steal all three bases en route to a 1-0 Phoenix lead.
The second and third innings were essentially a wash as both teams shut each other out, allowing only one combined base runner in both frames combined. Cumberland saw more success in the bottom of the fourth, as Briana De La Maza smacked a triple to right center field.
Abby Chappell came up straight away and hit a bloop single over the third baseman to extend the Phoenix's lead, scoring De La Maza. Kenzie France walked to put runners on both first and second, but the Vikings pitched themselves out of the jam to keep the game at 2-0.
Grabbing what would be the Vikings' only run of the game, Mckensey Stontz hit a solo home over the right field fence to put the pressure on the Phoenix. Kaitlin Higgins may have had her shutout spoiled, but she did not allow another run for the remainder of the game, also only allowing two hits from the fifth inning on.
In total, Higgins allowed six hits and just the one run as the Phoenix took game one of the doubleheader in a nailbiter, 2-1.
Offense was not flowing for either team in game two as it took 2 1/2 innings before a run was scored. In the bottom of the third though, the Phoenix began to find their rhythm against the Viking pitching.
Lay slapped a double to get a runner in scoring position and an error by the second baseman allowed Chappell to reach first, pushing Lay across home plate in the process. Following that up, France sent a one-run triple over the right fielder's head.
Sara Brogdon and Brylee Bartley both hit singles to score two more runs in the inning, running out to a 4-0 lead. The hits did not stop for the Phoenix in the following inning as Gracie Arnemann hit a leadoff double and Lay drove her in with a first-pitch single.
Abby Chappell matched Arnemann's effort with a double of her own, scoring Lay. Brogdon and Bartley both then hit singles, like the previous inning, and drove in a combined three runs between them.
In danger of being run-ruled, the Vikings fought back to score four runs on just two hits, making the game 9-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Phoenix could not find any success in the frame and the Vikings looked eager to make a comeback.
A double and a sac fly put a runner in perfect position to score, and Meghan Nixon drove in the run to make the game even closer, but the Phoenix had the answer they needed in the sixth. Abbie Peach started a two-out rally with a single to shallow center field and Arnemann kept the momentum up with a double of her own.
Lay came up big yet again, making her hot day at the plate even hotter, singling to right field to score two runs. With the lead built back up Carley Clinard was able to shut Augustana down in the seventh and take Cumberland's second victory of the day.
The Phoenix were scheduled to play again today against Lane College, but that game was canceled. Next up, the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders will be in town this weekend for a four-game Mid-South Conference series Friday and Saturday.
