Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagle Softball Opens 2024 Season by playing four in North Carolina

Marion, NC:  Despite the cold winter weather, the Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles opened up softball play on Friday, February 2nd, when they journeyed to the Tar Heel state for warmer temperatures. They would battle Bluefield State University and Montreat University in a four-game set.

February 2nd

Game 1

Alice Lloyd-17; Bluefield State University-3

The Kentucky ladies wielded the big bats as they opened the season on a high-note.

The scoring started in the first when Maleigh McDaniel rapped a single and a run later scored on a wild pitch (1-0). BSU would capture the lead in their first at-bat when three singles produced a duo of runs (2-1). Happily, things would quickly change for the benefit of the Kentucky squad.

In the second, three Bluefield State errors, combined with a McDaniel double, led to a flurry of 5 runs (6-2). The Eagles were just warming up on offense

In the third, five walks and a couple of well-placed singles opened the floodgates to produce 7 runs. Suddenly, ALC led 13-2.

In the meantime, McDaniel was performing double-duty as she also controlled things from the pitcher's mound.

One inning later, five singles helped drive in 4 more ALC scores. The Caney Creek Clubbers were now ahead 17-2.

BSU managed 1 more run in the bottom of the fourth (17-3), while in the fifth, the Pippa Passes team actually went scoreless. However, Rylee Cox would come to the ALC mound in relief and promptly retire the Big Blues in one-two-three order to slam the door shut on the opening victory.

McDaniel finished 3-3 from the plate with a double and led with 3 RBI's. Aspyn Branham and Ellie Keene each added 2 hits apiece. Their squad would rap 11 hits, leave 6 runners on base and only commit 1 error

McDaniel took the impressive victory on the mound. She went 4 innings, allowing 6 hits and 3 earned runs.  Cox closed with a perfect fifth inning.

The West Virginia club recorded 6 hits, left 2 stranded on base, and committed 3 costly errors. 

GAME 2

Alice Lloyd- 4; Montreat-13

The host club broke away from a tie score to win going away.

The Eagles came out and scored in the first inning. Mckenzie Orfield was hit by a pitch and advanced her way to third base. She then plated the first score on a fielder's choice at second base (1-0). Unfortunately, Montreat would tie the game in their opening bat on a single (1-1).

In the second, Ellie Keene smacked a double for ALC, stole third, then walked home on a wild toss (2-1). However, the hosts used two Eagle errors and a single to knot things at 2-2.

The bottom of the third was big for the hosts. They rapped two doubles and four singles to drive in 4 runs and pull ahead, 6-2. Montreat would soon reverse things.

The Caney Creek crew put a dent in the score in the fourth when three singles helped slice the deficit in half (6-4). Unfortunately, things would get desperate for the Kentucky girls in the same inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the North Carolina team would unload with two doubles and two home runs to produce 7 big runs (13-4). ALC then went down in order in the fifth to hand the game to the home club.

Keene had 2 hits including a double and stole two bases. Mackenzie Newport added a two-run single.

On the mound, Kirsten Vice suffered the loss. Cox, Kinna Justice, and Carly Creech all saw action in relief. They combined to allow 13 hits and 13 runs with 2 strikeouts. They were outhit, 13-6, and committed 2 errors.

February 3rd

Game 1

Alice Lloyd- 7; Bluefield State University- 16

A disastrous fifth inning proved fatal to the Eagles in day two.

In the first inning, BSU took an early lead on a double (1-0) but ALC used two singles in their opening at-bat to plate a couple of runs (2-1).

In the Eagle third, Orfield singled, advanced her way to third, then scored on a fielder's choice (3-1).

The Big Blues tied things one-inning later on a double (3-3) only to see the Lady Eagles break it once more fueled by two walks and a McDaniel single (4-3). Unfortunately for the Caney Creek crew, things would soon change.

In the fifth, BS rode two doubles, 6 singles and two walks to run off a huge 9-spot. Suddenly, the Mountaineer squad led 12-4.

Hunt would gain 1 run back for the Bluegrass gals with a run-producing single (12-5), then see her team gain 2 more runs in the sixth on two singles and an error (12-7).

However, in the Bluefield State seventh, they would reseize the momentum by using a triple and double to bring 4 runs across the plate (16-7). They would then end the contest by getting ALC out in order in their last at-bat.

The Eagles would be outhit 17-10. Rachael Rife and Aubree Laster both had 2 hits while Branham led with 2 RBIs.

Vice suffered the loss on the mound, allowing 8 hits and 4 earned runs in 4.1 innings while striking out 2 and walking 1.  The Eagles stranded 4 runners on base and committed 3 miscues.

Game 2

Alice Lloyd-3; Montreat- 9

For the second straight contest, ALC jumped ahead early, but faltered in the middle innings as they dropped the final game.

The Pippa Passes club opened the second with 2 scores. These came from a double by Laster and a single by Audrey Mowell (2-0).

The visitors would add another run in the third on a couple of singles from Orfield and McDaniel (3-0). They produced a 2-run homer and 2-run double to plate the scores (4-3).

Next, in the fourth, the hosts would ride five hits to gain 5 more runs. This would propel them to a 9-3 cushion. They would then close the contest by shutting down the Pippa Passes posse to take the contest.

Four different Eagles had hits, with Laster's double being the only extra-base rap. Their squad was outhit 10-4.

Branham, Mowell, and Keene all delivered 1 RBI, and the squad did play error-free ball.

On the mound, McDaniel would take the loss, allowing 8 hits and 7 earned runs in 3.2 innings. She whiffed 3 batters and walked 3. Isabella Marvel and Justice both appeared in relief. Justice went the final two innings, facing just six batters and striking out 3.