LAURINBURG, N.C. — Bluefield University softball hit the road Monday and came home with a doubleheader sweep over St. Andrews (NC), combining dominant early offense with late-game resilience to notch 10–1 and 10–8 victories in an Appalachian Athletic Conference clash.
Game One: Fast Start Fuels 10–1 Win
The Lady Rams wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, exploding for five runs in the first inning and riding that momentum to a 10–1 run-rule victory in five innings.
Catcher Hannah Hayes had a monster game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a three-run home run, and three RBIs. Chloe Dillow added a solo homer, while Kenidy Harris went a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored. Lauren "Trax" Jackson contributed a pair of hits and two RBIs in a well-rounded offensive effort.
Pitcher Hallie Cox was in control throughout, tossing a complete-game gem. She struck out six, scattered four hits, and allowed just one run on 69 pitches to earn the win.
Bluefield took full advantage of St. Andrews' defensive miscues, scoring five two-out RBIs and playing error-free defense behind Hallie Cox.
Game Two: Extra-Inning Drama Ends in 10–8 Victory
Game two proved to be a much tighter affair, but the Lady Rams showed their resilience. After building a 5–0 lead by the third inning, Bluefield found itself locked in a seesaw battle with the Knights, who rallied to tie the game at 8–8 through seven innings.
In the top of the ninth, Bluefield broke the tie with two clutch runs and held firm in the bottom half to secure the sweep with a 10–8 win.
MacKenzie Franklin led the charge offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Chloe Dillow reached base four times with two hits and two walks, while Alexis McDuffie added two hits, a walk, two stolen bases, and an RBI from the leadoff spot.
Ali Glover went the distance in the circle, tossing all nine innings. She struck out eight batters and allowed seven earned runs on 123 pitches, repeatedly escaping jams and delivering in high-leverage situations.
Bluefield totaled 24 hits and 20 runs across the two games, showcasing both power and patience at the plate. The wins improve the Lady Rams' conference record and demonstrate their ability to win in dominant and tight games alike. They will take this momentum on the road again as they travel to Fayetteville State on Wednesday.
