ATLANTA, Ga. --- A four run third inning extended the Hornets season as the No. 3 seeded Lynchburg College softball team won an elimination game 6-1 over No. 4 seeded Agnes Scott College on Saturday afternoon in the Atlanta Regional of the NCAA tournament.
Lynchburg struck first in the second inning, scoring one run on just one hit while taking advantage of a defensive miscue by the Scotties.Danielle Powell started the frame by singling to shortstop. Skylar Seals then reached on an error to move Powell up a base. An Olivia Donahue walk loaded the bases with no one out.
The Scotties tried to get out of the jam as Casey Arnold struck out the next batter for the first out, but Logan Walker came off the bench to pinch hit and collected an RBI groundout.
Melanie Tenney started the third inning in similar fashion with a leadoff walk. Amber Ingram then smashed a grounder to third, but Tenney beat the throw to second. A sacrifice bunt and hit by pitch later and the Hornets had the bases loaded with one out for the second time in as many frames.
Seals singled off the shortstop to plate Tenney and Ingram for a 3-0 lead before LC loaded the bases once more on a Donahue single.
Agnes Scott turned to the bullpen and Lynchburg called upon another pinch hitter, but the battle was won by LC as Lauren Smith walked to plate the fourth run of the game. Nicole Riley's single up the middle closed the scoring in the frame as LC took a commanding 5-0 lead.
Powell tripled home Tenney, who doubled earlier in the inning, to score Lynchburg sixth run later in the game.
Aliyah Williams went 1-for-2 with an RBI for Agnes Scott (23-22) while also pitching four innings of one-run ball.
Elizabeth Fioretti (5-4) picked up the win for the Hornets with three scoreless innings. She allowed four hits and one walk while matching a season high with six strikeouts. Powell finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.
Lynchburg (31-15) takes on the No. 2 seed, Piedmont College (42-7), at 5:10 p.m. in another elimination game. The Hornets fell to the Lions on Friday by a score of 6-4.
--- This release is courtesy of the Lynchburg College sports information department. ---
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