Marshall's Homer Gets Softball a Split With #13 USC Aiken

SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba split a softball doubleheader with 13th-ranked USC Aiken on Saturday afternoon at Salisbury Community Park.  The Catawba Indians took the opener 3-2, while the Pacers came back for a 7-6 win in the nightcap.  Catawba now stands at 4-2 and USC Aiken is 6-2.

The Lady Indians picked up the win in dramatic fashion on a one-out, two-run homer by Allie Marshall (Pleasant Garden, NC/SW Guilford HS) in the bottom of the seventh.  Kathryn Geouge (Canton, NC/Pisgah HS), who had homered in the first, drew a one out walk before the game-winning home run.

The Pacers scored their two runs in the third on RBI singles by Toni Flessate (Goose Creek, SC) and Kelley King (Chesterfield, SC).  Marshall was the only player with two hits in the opener.  Brittany Murray (Asheboro, NC/E. Randolph HS) improved to 3-0 with the complete game.  She allowed two runs off seven hits with four strikeouts.

USC Aiken rallied to earn the split.  Down 3-1, the Pacers scored twice in the sixth on singles by Blair Warren (Darlington, SC) and Kellie Hair (Aiken, SC) then pushed across four in the seventh.  Lauren Locklear (Charleston, SC) drove home the go-ahead run and Warren added a two-run double.

The Pacers withstood a Catawba rally as Geouge led off the seventh with a home run and Katie Huggins (Oviedo, FL/Lake Howell HS/Lake Sumter CC) added a two-run homer with one out.  Lauren Rickabaugh (N. Augusta, SC) was able to get the next two batters to finish the complete game and improve to 3-0.

Catawba went on top with three runs in the third to lead 3-1.  Marshall doubled home a run and Tara Gibbs (Waynesville, NC/Tuscola HS) followed with a two-run homer.  Marshall and Carly Sabat (Warren, OH/Howland HS) each had three hits for Catawba.

Warren collected three hits for the Pacers.  Locklear had a pair of hits in the nightcap.  Rickabaugh allowed six runs off 11 hits, but did post seven strikeouts. 

Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box