The Guilford College softball team opened the 2023 season against the William Peace University Pacers. The Quakers fell in both games to the Pacers, 8-0 and 7-5.

Game 1: William Peace 8, Guilford 0 (5 Inn.)

The visitors opened the scoring in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to left field. Both teams went down in order over the next inning and a half until the top of the third. After a single and walk, the Pacers eventually found themselves with runners in scoring position with two outs.

A RBI single up the middle increased the lead to two. The next at-bat was a bases clearing double to help WPU to a 4-0 going to the bottom of the third. A scoreless third Guilford led to a four-run fourth for the Pacers to give them an 8-0 advantage.

The bottom of the fourth was the best chance for the Quakers as Emma Patterson reached on a single, she was able to steal second and third. Alli Clemens drew a walk and pinch runner Morgan Lawson stole second but the two runners were left stranded. William Peace closed out the game for the win.

Game 2: William Peace 7, Guilford 5

In game two, both teams went down in order in the first inning. In the second, the Pacers capitalized on two errors, scoring five runs on three hits to jump ahead early. 

WPU held the five-run advantage until the bottom of the fifth when Abbie Hill drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring home Cierra Martin. The next at-bat, Ally Morales drove a single right up the middle to plate Patterson to cut the deficit to three (5-2).

After a scoreless top of the sixth, Guilford looked to even the score. With runners on the corners, Makenley Mitchell hit a sacrifice fly to left as Grace Calus tagged up from third. Later in the inning, Patterson laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring home Nicole Gumula. During the play, the Pacers committed a throwing error that allowed Lawson to score and even the score at five.

In the top of the seventh, William Peace drove a ball over the right center fence for a two-run homer and the 7-5 lead. The Pacers held the Quakers to a lone hit in the bottom half of the inning for the two-run win.

Guilford welcomes Sweet Briar College on Saturday, February 18 for a doubleheader. Start time for game one is set for 1:00 p.m.