NCWU softball splits in final league doubleheader

The North Carolina Wesleyan University softball team concluded its regular season with a split of its USA South Conference doubleheader against Meredith on Saturday.

The Bishops lost the first game 5-2 and thus ended their chances of being one of the two hosts for the conference tournament when Greensboro won. Wesleyan then rallied in the second game to take a 6-5 victory, finishing in third place in the USA South (11-7) and 21-17 overall.

In the first game, Meredith jumped out to a 5-0 lead and weathered a two-run sixth by Wesleyan to emerge with the victory.

Lillie Baumbach homered and led the Bishops with two hits and an RBI, while Skyler Walker (triple) and Makayla Simmons (RBI) each had one hit.

Morgan Aycock suffered the loss after going 2.2 frames and allowed three hits and three earned runs with one strikeout and two walks. Keira Boisvert went 3.1 innings and gave up three hits and two earned runs with three walks and no strikeouts.

In the second game, Wesleyan trailed 5-2 before tying it with three runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from Ava Lowry and a two-run single by Aleah Jones and winning it in the top of the eighth when Molly Alejandrino singled home Hannah Rubino.

Jones went 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBI for the Bishops. Baumbach, Walker, Lowry, Simmons (home run in the fourth inning) and Alejandrino provided one hit each.

Boisvert earned the win in relief for Wesleyan as she went 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs with one walk. Starter Emily Humphrey pitched 3.2 frames and surrendered seven hits and five runs (four earned) with four walks and one strikeout.

Wesleyan will begin play in the USA South Tournament on Thursday in Greensboro. The Bishops are in Bracket 2 and will play No. 6 seed Methodist at 4 p.m.

Wesleyan has won seven of its last nine games going into the tournament.