GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Guilford College softball team (15-20-1, 5-11 ODAC) battled hard throughout their first home clash in over a week against the University of Lynchburg (23-13, 12-4 ODAC), falling just shy of a comeback bid in game one, 8-7 over the Hornets, while the rubber match displayed a lack of offensive firepower for the Quakers, resulting in a 7-0 decision in favor of Lynchburg on Saturday afternoon at Haworth Field.
 
Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) drew the start in the circle for Guilford in game one, tossing 2.2 frames, dropping six earned runs, on eight hits, and one walk for the loss, falling to 4-6 on the year. Emma Parnell (Troy, N.C.) entered in relief for the Quakers, pitching a solid 3.0 innings, only allowing two earned runs on two hits, four walks, striking out four in the process. Micah Wilson (Asheboro, N.C.) closed things out for Guilford with 1.1 innings of work, only allowing one hit while striking out one batter.
 
After several miscues throughout the contest, Lynchburg's Kate Charlton pitched a complete game of 7.0 innings, allowing seven runs, five earned off nine hits and one walk for the victory, advancing to 10-5 overall.
 
Savannah Newton (Concord, N.C.) was the top performer for Guilford at the dish, bashing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Kalissa Williams (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) followed suit with a fantastic outing at the plate, slashing 2-for-3, with one run, one RBI, one walk, and one home run. Kaylyn Little (Locust, N.C.) added on towards the comeback outing late in game one, logging 2-for-4 with one RBI.
 
Georgia Thompson had an all-star performance offensively for the Hornets, recording 2-for-3, with two runs scored, one run batted in, one walk, one double, and two bases swiped. Hailey Schildt continued the scoring success for Lynchburg, batting 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Layla Lietzan added on to Lynchburg's total with a perfect 2-for-2 slash line with one run scored and one walk. Bryanna Orange created a similar story for the Hornets offensively, slashing 2-for-4 with one run, two RBIs, and one home run.
 
Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) finished things for Guilford in the rubber match, tossing 7.0 innings, faltering throughout key moments in the clash from allowing seven runs, two earned, off 11 hits, one walk, striking out three for the loss, falling to 4-6 on the season.
 
McKenzie Booth pitched a gem in game two for Lynchburg in the circle, only giving up two hits, one walk, and striking out one for the win, advancing to 5-4 overall.
 
Kalissa Williams (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) and Janey Galek (Charlotte, N.C.) each snagged the lone hits for Guilford throughout the contest, Williams slashing 1-for-3, while Galek making contact off her pinch-hitting appearance, recording 1-for-1.
 
Lynchburg's stellarness at the dish continued with Helen Maddux batting 3-for-4 in the ultimate contest, logging two runs scored and one stolen base. Zoë Elliott followed suit with a 2-for-4 outing, scoring one run. Sarah Watts bashed 2-for-4 from the middle of the batting order, recording one run, one RBI, one triple, and one stolen base.
 
GAME 1     
At the start of the opener, Alyssa Talyumptewa sent a double down the left field line in the first, scoring the first runs of the day for Lynchburg. The Hornets would take a 2-0 lead off a Hailey Schildt sac-fly at the conclusion of the top half of the first. With Lynchburg up 3-0, Helen Maddux added to that total with an RBI single into right field. Bryanna Orange collected a home run sent over the right-center field fence in the third. The Hornets collected a 6-0 lead at the end of the third.
 
The Quaker-bats would get hot in the second half of the clash, with Kaylyn Little (Locust, N.C.) sending an RBI-single up the middle. Savannah Newton (Concord, N.C.) later added on to that tally with an RBI-double, cutting Guilford's deficit to three at the conclusion of the fifth. In the final inning of action, Nicole Drew (Raleigh, N.C) kept Guilford's bats scorching with an RBI-single, cutting the Quakers deficit to 8-4. After two more runs scored, off fielder's choice plays, Kalissa Williams (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) bashed a long home run into center field, putting Guilford only behind by one, 8-7. Unfortunately, this would become the final result of the battle, concluding game one in an 8-7 decision in favor of Lynchburg.
 
GAME 2
Sarah Watts marked the first run for Lynchburg off an infield RBI single to third. This would eventually lead to Lynchburg's 2-0 lead through one inning of action. Alex Love sent a triple into left field, scoring two off the play for the Hornets to double their lead in the second, 4-0. Scoring would cease momentarily before Georgia Thompson doubled into left-center, scoring one run in extending Lynchburg's lead 6-0. Bryanna Orange would put this clash on ice with an RBI sac-fly, concluding game two with a 7-0 result in favor of the Hornets.
 
The Quakers will travel up Route 220 for a duo of clashes against Roanoke College on Tuesday, April 21st, at the Moyer Sports Complex. Game one will commence at 3:00 PM, while game two is slated for 5:00 PM.
 
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