Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BLUEFIELD - Bluefield College history was made Monday, May 8 as the softball team in its first ever postseason appearance, took a pair of games from Alice Lloyd College to win the National Christian College Athletic Association Mid-East Regional and claim a spot in the NCCAA Softball Championships next week in Troutville, Va.
In game one the Rams claimed a 16-0 win over the Eagles in the school's first ever softball postseason game.
The Rams got on the board in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Kaitlyn Pennington singled to right, stole second and later third, and came home on Eryn Haley's ground out.
Bluefield added three runs in the bottom of the second on a three-run home run by Pennington, well over the center field fence.
BC put the game away in the third inning as they scored 10 runs against three different Alice Lloyd pitchers.
Meredith Throckmorton got the inning started with a leadoff home run to left. When the inning was over, 15 Bluefield players had come to the plate and the Rams held a 14-0 lead. The Rams added their final two runs in the fourth inning.
In the circle, Brienna Sparks shined for the Rams. Sparks worked the complete five inning game and allowed only two hits while striking out nine batters in picking up her 12th win of the season.
At the plate Pennington was 3-for-4, scored three runs and knocked in four.Morgan Sawyers, Alexandra Bartley, Baily Garin and Laura Kincer each had a pair of hits.
Bluefield took an 8-1 win in game two to claim the regional championship and a berth in next week's NCCAA tournament.
The Rams wasted little time getting on the board as leadoff hitter Pennington doubled, then scored on a single by Morgan Sawyers. Eryn Haley followed with a singled and then stole second. Throckmorton's base hit scored both Sawyers and Haley to put Bluefield ahead 3-0.
The Rams added two in the third, a single run in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to get the win. Pennington again homered for Bluefield, her seventh of the season.
In game two Haley led Bluefield at the plate as she was 4-for-4 and scored a pair of runs. Pennnington was 3-for-4 and scored twice.
The game two pitching victory went to Cameron Pearson who pitched the complete seven inning contest. Pearson allowed seven hits and struck out 10 batters.
Bluefield College now advances to the NCCAA Softball World Series, which the school hosts, at the Botetourt Sports Complex in Troutville, Va., May 17-19. Pairings for the tournament will be announced Saturday, May 13.