The UNCP softball team got back to work after nearly a two-week hiatus from play when they welcomed the Division III William Peace Pacers to UNCP Softball Field for a non-conference doubleheader on Feb.26. They were enduring a four-game losing skid coming into this match-up but thanks to 15 hits over the course of both games, that included two home runs from freshman slugger Cam Davis, they were able to get back in the win column and bring their overall record to .500 at 8-8.
“I thought we started a little shaky, but I thought we really started to pick it up and find ourselves. Today for the first time on a long time, we looked like ourselves and I think we always play really well at home,” said Head Coach Brittney Bennett.
Game 1:
The Braves would be the first and final ones to get on the board as they shut out the Pacers in game one of the doubleheader thanks to some clutch pitching from junior right-handed pitcher Malerie Leviner and multiple run innings in both the first and final inning.
“Malerie pitched from behind a lot today and we really try to push her boundaries on how well can you deal with the failure and what’s going on. I think she did a good job of recovering,” said Bennett.
The Black and Gold would get on the board first following a Pacers’ error, a bunt from Alex Watkins and a groundout by Davis that resulted in Mary Sells and Rendi Wetherington scoring the first pair of runs in the game.
After an offensive drought over the next four innings, Davis got things going again with her leadoff solo homer to open the frame. That would be the first of the five innings that the Black and Gold would need to force the mercy rule into effect.
Game 2:
After being shutout in the first game of their season, the Pacers would score the first two runs of the first inning and of their season to start off game two. The Braves would respond in the same frame as they tied the contest up with two runs of their own courtesy of Sells and Tatum Brummitt before Davis would record her second home run of the day, except this time it wasn’t a solo homer but it would instead result in a three-run scoring play that put the home team up for good.
“She’s definitely finding herself again. I think she had a typical freshman moment where she hit really well at the beginning of the season and started to get a little antsy, not swinging at the right stuff but I felt really good about her today,” said Bennett about Davis ending her cold spell at-bat.
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