Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles Softball Splits at Conference Foe West Virginia Tech

Beckley, WV: The Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles softball team returned to action on April 29^th as they journeyed to the Mountaineer state to face the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears in River States Conference action. When the dust had settled after two completely different games, the squads had chalked up a split for the second time this year. ALC's record now stands at 11-29 (6-22 RSC), while the conference-tournament-bound Golden Bears sit at 23-25 (13-17 RSC).

April 29th

GAME 1

Alice Lloyd-4; WVT-3

The Lady Eagles came from behind late with two big runs to pull out the opener in a well-played contest.

The Caney Creek crew produced the game's first run in the third. In that at-bat, Chloe Taylor (SS) drove a fastball over the center field fence to strike gold (1-0).

Tech answered right back in the bottom of the inning, using a single to plate the tying run (1-1).

In the Eagle fifth, with Rachel Rife (LF) on third, a daring double steal caught the hosts off guard and pushed the Bluegrass ladies ahead in the contest at 2-1.

However, the Golden Bears would promptly seize the momentum in the bottom of the inning when a clutch single drove in two runners. Now, WVT led 3-2.

In desperate need of runs, the Pippa Passes posse would come through. First, Maleigh Mcdaniel (P) and Elizabeth McIntosh (PR) both reached base. Eventually, they wound up on second and third with one out. At that juncture, Baylee Cox (RF) would lay down a nice bunt, which permitted Mcdaniel to scamper home with the tying run (3-3). More good news was to come.

Taylor then stepped up to the plate once more. After waiting for her pitch, she promptly smacked a single to center, which delivered Mcintosh home to lift her squad back in the lead (4-3). Now the visitors had to see if they could hold their one-run advantage. Thankfully, they could.

Down to their last chance, Tech could not break through against the pitching of Lady Eagle McDaniel, who promptly slammed the door shut to preserve the big comeback victory for the Kentucky team.

At the plate, the Caney Creek ladies would record 8 hits, with Taylor and Alexis Morris (2B) both gaining 2. Taylor had 2 RBIs.

On the mound, Maleigh Mcdaniel went the distance for the nice win. In 7 innings, she gave up 9 hits and only 3 earned runs. She whiffed 6 Lady Bear batters.

The Caney crew barely lost the hitting battle 9-8, but 0 errors would prove to pay huge dividends.

GAME 2

Alice Lloyd- 3; WVT-11

 Two big innings propelled the home club to victory and enabled them to gain a split.

ALC would strike fast when Lyndsey Adkins (1B) smoked a double. She was then followed by Aspyn Branham (3B), who promptly smashed a double of her own. Just like that, the Caney girls led 1-0.

 However, WVT answered in their first-at-bat with a solo blast, and the contest was tied at 1-1. Unfortunately, that would change.

In the Tech second, they would receive two doubles, including one with the bases full, plus two singles, to run wild. When the fire had finally been extinguished, the hosts suddenly led, 7-1.

Alice Lloyd looked to put a dent in the deficit in the third. In that inning, a grounder, plus a sweet triple from Branham, plated two scores, but WV Tech still led 7-3.

A fielder's choice in the bottom half of the inning gave the Mountaineer squad a run back (8-3), but they would ice the game in the fourth.

In that inning, a fielder's choice, plus an important single, led to three runs scoring (11-3). Tech would then close out the night in the fifth to bring home the win.

The Caney ladies would record just 5 hits on the day, with Branham's 2 extra-base swats and 2 RBIs being the bright spots.

On the mound, Haley Howell wasn't her usual self. In 1.2 innings, she allowed 6 hits and 3 earned runs. Kursten Napier gave up 2 hits and 1 earned run in two innings of relief, while Cox faced the final five batters, allowing 3 earned runs.

The winners doubled up on the hits (10-5) and saw the Lady Eagles commit the only 2 errors of the game.