CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Montevallo softball team split a pair of contest to open the Chattanooga Invitational on Friday, defeating McKendree, 8-3, and falling to No. 8 West Texas A&M, 6-4.
GAME ONE
Taylor Lloyd had another solid stint in the circle, earning her third win and second complete game of the season. Lloyd allowed three runs on four hits, while recording nine strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Montevallo struck first, as Ariana Pinder hit a two-out double and Riley Tyree brought her home with an RBI-single in the top of the first. The Bearcats looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning, putting a pair of runners on, but a pair of Lloyd strikeouts kept McKendree off the board.
The Falcons added to its lead in the top of the second, as Emma Hawkins hit an RBI-single to score Makayla Peters and Bentlee Stiner followed that up with a two RBI-single to score Lillie Piersol and Hawkins, putting the Falcons ahead, 4-0.
The Bearcats found its response in the bottom of the third, plating three runs to cut the deficit to one run, 4-3.
Montevallo looked to go back on the offensive in the top of the fourth, as Hawkins led things off with a single. Stiner hit a one-out RBI triple to score Hawkins and earn her third RBI of the day, putting UM ahead, 5-3. Pinder followed that up with an RBI-bunt single to score Stiner, stretching the Montevallo advantage to 6-3.
The Falcons added two more runs in the top of the seventh, as Hawkins earned an RBI-groundout and Peyton Hull scored off a double steal.
The Bearcats looked to rally late, but Lloyd recorded two strikeouts and induced a flyout in the bottom of the seventh to secure the Montevallo, 8-3, victory.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 8 | McKendree 3
Records: Montevallo 3-0 | McKendree 4-1
Location: Frost Stadium at Warner Park | Chattanooga, Tenn.
GAME NOTES
Montevallo outhit McKendree 13-4.
Taylor Lloyd earned her third win and second complete game of the season.
Ariana Pinder went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate.
Bentlee Stiner recorded a team high-three RBIs.
GAME TWO
Five Falcon pitchers saw action against West Texas A&M. Lloyd earned the start in the circle and allowed no runs through three innings pitched. Kinsley Byrd and Berkley Mooney combined for five strikeouts.
Pitching and defense proved to dominate early, as both teams were scoreless through the first three innings. Riley Tyree earned the first Falcon hit of the game with a single in the second inning.
West Texas A&M exploded in the top of the fourth inning, plating five runs on four hits. The Buffs added one more run in the top of the seventh to take a, 6-0, advantage into the bottom of the seventh.
Montevallo looked to rally as Skylar Johnson hit a single and Emma Hawkins and Emma Faulk earned back-to-back walks to load the bases. Bentlee Stiner came up huge, hitting a grand slam to cut the deficit to, 6-4. Ariana Pinder followed that up with a walk, bringing the tying run to the plate. A groundout ended the Falcon rally, as the No. 8 Buffs secured the, 6-4, victory.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 4 | No. 8 West Texas A&M 6
Records: Montevallo 3-1 | No. 8 West Texas A&M 7-1
Location: Frost Stadium at Warner Park | Chattanooga, Tenn.
GAME NOTES
- The Buffs nearly outhit the Falcons 7-6.
- Bentlee Stiner hit the first Falcon grand slam of the year.
- Five Falcon pitchers saw action in the circle.
- Riley Tyree recorded two hits.
UP NEXT: Montevallo closes the weekend with games against Ohio Dominican and Young Harris on Saturday.
