GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Guilford College softball team (2-4) exchanged victories with Mary Baldwin University (1-1), being outlasted 11-6 in game one before staging a dramatic comeback with an 8-7 walk-off win in game two at Haworth Field on Thursday afternoon.
 
Game One:
On the mound, Emily McCreery (1-0) earned the win for the Fighting Squirrels, allowing six earned runs over 4.2 innings before Reagan Frazier came in for the save, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. For the Quakers, Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) (0-2) battled through a tough outing, surrendering 11 runs (six earned) on 13 hits while striking out four. Defensive struggles plagued the Quakers, as five errors contributed to MBU's early scoring.

Mary Baldwin struck first, capitalizing on defensive mishaps by Guilford to plate four runs in the opening moments. Hadley May was the offensive star for MBU, blasting two home runs and driving in five RBIs. Leanna Rankin and Trinity Thomas also contributed, combining for three RBIs and keeping the pressure on Guilford's defense throughout the game.

The Quakers found life in the fifth inning, sparked by Kaci Johnson's (Winterville, N.C.) three-run homer to right center, trimming the lead to 9-6. Johnson had a standout day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a triple, homer, and three RBIs. Kalissa Williams (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) also delivered key hits, including an RBI double with two left on base, while Micah Wilson (Asheboro, N.C.) chipped in with an RBI single. Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) provided a spark off the bench, collecting two hits in as many at-bats.
 
Game Two:
 
Dillon Northen (Kernersville, N.C.) (1-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Starter Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) battled through 5.2 innings, surrendering seven runs (four earned) on nine hits while striking out four. MBU utilized four pitchers in the game, with Taylor Shreck (0-1) taking the loss in relief. McKenzie Tillman started the game and pitched 4.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out three and issuing four walks. Bailey Jahna followed with 1.0 scoreless inning, allowing three hits before Shreck took over. Frazier struggled in the seventh, facing six batters but recording just one out, allowing four earned runs on five hits before being pulled.

May continued her impressive power display, launching a two-run home run in the sixth, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Emily Hall contributed with three hits and an RBI, while Rankin added a double and a run scored. Goyings put on a show, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a double, while Johnson added three RBIs.

Trailing 7-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Quakers' offense erupted. Johnson cracked the biggest blow with a two-run homer, bringing Guilford within two. Goyings followed with an RBI double, and Arden Finney (Boonville, N.C.) infield single tied the game at 7-7, sending it to extra innings. In the eighth, after Avery Lowe (Greensboro, N.C.) started the inning on second base, Riley Murrish (Boerne, Texas) came through with a sacrifice fly, allowing Lowe to score the winning run and complete the comeback.
 
GC hits the road for the first time this season to face the Spirits of Salem College on Saturday, March 1st at 4 PM and 6 PM to advance their non-conference schedule.
#GoQuakes