GREENSBORO, N.C. - Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) delivered a masterclass performance in the circle, tossing a three-hit shutout with ten strikeouts as the Guilford College softball team (6-6) blanked Elmira College (1-3) 5-0 in game one at Haworth Field early Thursday afternoon. Although
Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) proved effective in game two, the Quakers struggled to find their rhythm against the Soaring Eagles and could not answer the four-run sixth inning, leaving the score to be 7-3.
Game One:
Whelan (3-1) was dominant from start to finish, allowing just three hits and four walks in 7.0 innings, the most innings pitched on the season, while striking out ten in a complete-game effort. She worked efficiently, stranding runners and keeping Elmira's offense off balance throughout the game. Allie Mienaltowski (0-2) took the loss for Elmira, allowing three earned runs on eight hits over four innings. Madison Lodowski and Shelby Dawe pitched in relief but couldn't slow Guilford's momentum.
Guilford's offense steadily built its lead, striking first in the second inning when
Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) (3-for-3, double, triple, 2 runs) led off with a double and later scored on a
Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) RBI single. The Quakers added two runs in the fourth, highlighted by
Shiloh Gray's (Lexington, N.C.) RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Whelan.
In the fifth, Guilford capitalized on Elmira's defensive blunders, plating two more runs.
Corryn McCutchen (Carthage, N.C.) (1-for-3, 1 run, walk, stolen base) and Goyings (1-for-4, run scored) each came around to score, with Johnson again delivering a key hit.
The Soaring Eagles struggled to generate offense against Whelan, with Hannah Colwill, Brianna Ramstine, and Sophia Temple each recording a hit. EC's best scoring opportunity came in the sixth inning, but a fielder's choice at home plate erased a potential run, and Whelan shut the door with another strikeout.
Game Two:
Maryann Sobel (1-0) earned the win, pitching five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout. Dawe closed out the final two innings without allowing a run. For the Quakers, Gray (1-3) took the loss, going five innings and giving up seven runs (four earned) on nine hits while striking out five.
Dillon Northen (Kernersville, N.C.) provided two innings of scoreless relief, allowing no hits and striking out three.
Elmira struck early, scoring in each of the first three innings, capitalizing on Guilford's five defensive errors. Colwill (2-for-5, 2 RBIs, double) led the way for the Soaring Eagles, while Jocelyn Jean added an RBI sacrifice fly. The game remained within reach until Elmira cracked it open in the sixth with four runs behind Rachel Lunger's RBI single and Colwill's bunt RBI hit.
Guilford was quiet until the bottom of the sixth, when Johnson (2-for-4, triple, 2 RBIs) made some noise with a two-run triple.
Riley Murrish (Boerne, Texas) (1-for-1, RBI single) followed with another run-scoring hit, cutting the deficit to 7-3.
Despite the loss, Goyings (3-for-4, one run scored) led Guilford's offense with a multi-hit effort. However, the Quakers struggled to bring runners home, leaving seven on base.
GC travels to Misenheimer, N.C. to battle against Pfeiffer University on Wednesday, March 12th. First pitch is to be expected at 2 PM game one and 4 PM game two.
#GoQuakes
