GREENSBORO, N.C. - Despite a strong fourth-inning effort in game one, the Guilford College softball team (9-11) could not keep pace with North Carolina Wesleyan University's (12-10) explosive bats, falling 13-7 in a non-conference matchup at Haworth Field on Tuesday afternoon. On the flip side for game two, the Quakers punched the Battling Bishops in the mouth early with four runs in the first two innings paired with a solid showing of pitching in the 6-4 victory.
 
With this split, GC stays 0-2 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) while NC Wesleyan also stays at 0-2 in the USA South.
 
Game One:

Micah Wilson (Asheboro, N.C.) (0-1) took the loss in her first start of the season on the mound, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and striking out one in 2.1 innings. Kalissa Williams (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) pitched in relief, tossing 4.2 innings but surrendering seven earned runs on 11 hits. Addyson Romanczyk (4-3) earned the win for the Battling Bishops, pitching 1.2 innings in relief, while Morgan Aycock closed the game with two scoreless innings.

GC tallied 12 hits, led by Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.), who went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, and Riley Murrish (Boerne, Texas), who finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double. Olivia Shelton (Stokesdale, N.C.) contributed an RBI triple, adding to the Quakers' offensive effort, while Williams and Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) each drove in a run. Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) was 2-for-4 on two runs as well for GC.

N.C. Wesleyan jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, then broke the game open with a seven-run third inning, highlighted by Kyiah Simmons' (3-for-5, 3 RBIs, double) home run. Savannah Bain, who was 3-for-5, had two RBIs, and a double, and Kayla Simmons, who went 3-for-5, had an RBI, and a double, also provided key hits for the Battling Bishops, who finished with 18 hits on the day.

The Quakers fought back with a four-run fourth inning, capitalizing on a fielding error and clutch RBI hits from Williams and Johnson. Guilford added another in the fifth, but N.C. Wesleyan tacked on four more insurance runs in the later innings, including Simmons' solo homer in the seventh.

Game Two:

Dillon Northen (Kernersville, N.C.) (3-1) stayed composed in the circle, tossing six innings, matching her season-high, while allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts. Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) came in for the seventh inning, shutting down the Battling Bishops and earning her first save of the season. Keira Boisvert (1-2) took the loss, giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits over three innings before Aycock pitched three innings of relief, allowing one unearned run.

Guilford came out strong in the early innings, striking first against N.C. Wesleyan with four runs in the first two frames, highlighted by Shelton's two-run single and Williams' RBI double. The Quakers continued to apply pressure in the third inning, adding another run on Johnson's sacrifice fly, extending their lead to 5-2.

The Battling Bishops responded with a solo home run from Ragan Holloman in the fifth and another solo shot from Emily Humphrey in the sixth, closing the gap to 5-4. However, the Quakers added a run for safe keeping in the bottom of the sixth when Goyings scored on a wild pitch, making it 6-4. Shelton led Guilford's offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Williams and Johnson each added an RBI. Murrish and Goyings both contributed key hits to keep the Quakers' momentum rolling.

Holloman, who was 3-for-4, had two RBIs, a homer, and a double, provided the biggest offensive spark for the away team, while Kyiah Simmons and Humphrey each added extra-base hits.

ODAC play resumes as the Quakers are set to face the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday, March 29th at home on Haworth Field. First pitch for game one is expected to be at 1 PM while game two is aimed for 3 PM.
 
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