Softball hosted the Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton College this past weekend out at JP Riddle Complex. After losing the first two games, the Trojans fought back in game three to take it to the bottom of the seventh, down by two.
They are now 7-23 overall and 3-9 in conference play with 18 games left in their regular season.
FTCC vs. Bryant & Stratton:
Game One- 3-14, Loss (6-innings)
The Bobcats came off the bus ready to hit as they scored nine runs in the first two innings.
The Trojans scored their first run in the bottom of the third. Raven Ross-Gillespie (West End, NC) hit a one out single to right field and Trinity Gaither (Bunnlevel, NC) walked. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and Ross-Gillespie scored on an RBI groundball from Leah Benjamin (McColl, SC).
In the fourth, the Trojans plated two more runners for their final runs of the game. Nyla Mitchell (Lumberton, NC) was hit by pitch to start the inning and Jasmine Wagner (Fayetteville, NC) and Mia Vasquez (St. Pauls, NC) drew back to back walks to load the bases. Maddie Burns (Sanford, NC) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Mitchell from third base. Grace Bailey (Eastover, NC) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Ross-Gillespie hit her second single of the day up the middle to earn an RBI before getting thrown out at second base.
The Bobcats scored four more runs in the sixth to enforce run rule. The Trojans were unable to respond in the bottom of the inning.
Mitchell threw one inning for the Trojans and Albani Hooker (Sanford, NC) finished the final five innings.
Ross-Gillespie went 2-2 with an RBI.
Game Two- 9-19, Loss
The Bobcats started off game two Saturday morning the same way they started game one. They scored eight runs in the first two innings to get ahead early. Bryant & Stratton scored in every inning but the sixth plating 19 baserunners.
Vasquez started on the mound for the Trojans and Hooker came on in relief in the first, throwing the final 6.2 innings.
The Trojans scored their first two runs in the second. Vasquez drew a leadoff walk and Burns hit a double to center field. Hooker had an RBI groundball and laid down a bunt to score the two Trojan baserunners.
In the fourth, Vasquez again started the inning off this time reaching on a Bobcats error. With one out, Hooker hit a line drive triple to the right center gap to earn an RBI and tie the school record for triples along with Gaither who tied it in a previous game.
Olivia Campbell (Grand Ledge, MI), Ross-Gillespie and Gaither hit back to back singles to keep the rally going. Benjamin put down a sacrifice bunt to plate the fifth Trojan baserunner.
The Trojans continued to score their final four runs of the game in the fifth. Vasquez led off with a single, followed by back to back doubles from Burns and Hooker. Bailey then followed with an RBI single of her own. With two outs, Gaither singled to keep the inning alive and Benjamin reached on an error to allow Mitchell to the plate. She smacked a line drive double to the fence to score Gaither from second base.
The Trojans had 16 hits in the contest, with Hooker going 3-4 with four RBIs and a triple and double.
Game Three- 3-4, Loss
Game three was a pitcher’s duel between Hooker and Hilary Stevenson for the Bobcats. Bryant & Stratton scored three runs in the top of the first and did not score another run until the fifth.
The Trojans scored their first run in the fourth. Wagner started the rally with a leadoff double. With one out, Burns singled to put runners on first and second and the runners moved up on a passed ball. Hooker then hit an RBI single to plate Wagner.
The second Trojan run was scored in the sixth to put the game within two. With one out, Vasquez doubled and later scored on a double from Hooker.
The Trojans had a rally going in the bottom of the seventh starting off down by two runs. Ross-Gillespie reached on an error and Gaither was hit by pitch. Benjamin singled to load the bases with no outs. Wagner hit a sacrifice fly to put the game within one run with two outs. The Trojans left two runners stranded as the Bobcats relief pitcher earned a strikeout to end the game.
The Trojans had ten hits. Gaither, Burns and Hooker each went 2-3.
Softball is on the road for the next 13 games. They will head to Brunswick on Wednesday and Pitt on Friday to continue with their conference games. They will be back at home on Wednesday, April 23 for a doubleheader against Brunswick starting at 4pm.
Softball Schedule
