BLUEFIELD, Va. – The Bluefield University softball team picked up a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference victories on Tuesday afternoon at Graham Recreation Park, defeating Montreat 10-2 in five innings in game one before earning a 6-5 walk-off win in 10 innings in the nightcap.
Game One – Bluefield 10, Montreat 2 (5 innings)
Montreat struck first with a solo home run in the top of the opening inning, but Bluefield answered immediately with a three-run response in the bottom half. After Karter Fortune reached and moved into scoring position, Alondra Reeves delivered a two-run single to give the Rams the lead, and a defensive miscue allowed another run to cross and make it 3-1.
The Rams broke the game open in the second inning. Fortune doubled to spark the rally before Chloe Dillow drew a walk, setting the stage for Kenidy Harris, who launched a three-run home run to center to extend the lead to 6-1.
BU continued to apply pressure in the third as Lauren Jackson tripled into the gap to bring home another run, pushing the advantage to 7-1. Montreat scratched across a run in the fifth, but the Rams responded one final time in the bottom half.
After a leadoff walk and a double from Jackson, Dillow delivered a clutch two-run double down the left field line to walk it off via run rule at 10-2.
In the circle, Isabella Smith was dominant, tossing a complete game while allowing just four hits and striking out nine.
Game Two – Bluefield 6, Montreat 5 (10 innings)
The nightcap provided even more drama, as Bluefield rallied twice and ultimately walked off Montreat in extra innings.
Montreat opened the scoring in the first inning, but the Rams answered in the second when Mackenzie Hood singled through the left side to plate Olivia Bailey and even the score at 1-1.
The Cavaliers surged ahead with a three-run fourth inning and added another run in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead, putting Bluefield on the brink late in the game.
The Rams responded in the seventh inning with a clutch rally. After Lauren Jackson reached and Karter Fortune doubled to put runners in scoring position, Delana Loflin lifted a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit. Two batters later, Dillow delivered in a big moment, blasting a two-run home run to center field to tie the game at 5-5.
Both teams were held scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings as BU's pitching staff, led by Alexis McDuffie in relief, kept Montreat off the board and gave the offense a chance.
In the 10th, the Rams executed in the international tiebreaker. After advancing the placed runner to third, McDuffie stepped to the plate and lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home Dillow for the game-winning run and securing the doubleheader sweep.
McDuffie also earned the win in the circle, tossing 6.1 strong innings in relief and allowing just one run down the stretch.
Bluefield returns to action Saturday when they host Columbia International for an AAC doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
