Softball Chases Down Tornadoes After Sweeping Talladega Friday
By Brandon Wright, RU Athletics
WALESKA, Ga. – Reinhardt continued its winning ways Friday afternoon as the team swept the visiting Talladega (Ala.) Tornadoes at home, 4-0 and 9-1 (six innings).
The out-of-conference doubleheader was one of the eighth-ranked Eagles' last as they head into the second half of the season – where they will play a slate made up primarily of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponents.
Today's victories give the hosts a 20-4 record on the year.
"We were a little sluggish and didn't play to the best of our abilities, but we talk about finding a way to win – and in the end – we did that," head coach Jade Geuther said. "So, we'll take it and look forward to getting back into conference play tomorrow."
Game 1 (W, 4-0)
· Conference Pitcher of the Week Reagan Radke took the mound in game one today – just as she did yesterday – and was magnificent yet again by putting up eleven strikeouts and allowing only two hits in another complete-game shutout.
· Yesterday, lead-off batter Alise Hooks opened the game up with an inside-the-park home run and this time she started things off with a leadoff triple, which was followed by a Jill Martinet single to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead after the opening inning.
· Martinet came through for the home team again in the bottom of the fourth when she hit a solo shot – her fifth homer of the season – giving her team a two-run cushion heading into inning five.
· Talladega threatened in inning six by loading the bases after two walks and a single with just one out, but Radke struck out the next batter and then retired the last batter by forcing her to hit a groundout… Effectively holding the 2-0 lead for Reinhardt.
· The Eagles added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth after two walks, a single and two consecutive sacrifice fly balls from Kyrstyn Fisher and Megan Huss, which brought home Emily Loveless and Jenna Richman to make the score, 4-0, after six innings.
· Radke then took care of business in the top of the seventh inning by striking out two of the final three batters and securing the 4-0 victory.
· Martinet was a force at the place in game one by going 3-for-3 with one run scored, two RBIs, and a homer.
Game 2 (W, 9-1) (Six Innings)
· Two different Eagles, Whitney Shepherd and Ansley Byers, took the mound in game two and posted a combined six-hit, four-strikeout performance.
· Just as it has done many times this season, Reinhardt got its first run of the game in the first inning after Alise Hooks singled, stole a base and then was brought home by Jill Martinet's single to make the score, 1-0, after one.
· The visitors put on the pressure in the top of the second inning after a Reinhardt miscue was followed by a Talladega single, which allowed a runner to score and even the game at one run apiece.
· The tie did not last long as the Eagles put up three hits and were walked three times in the following at-bat, which led to four more runs and a 5-1 lead.
· The Tornadoes opened up the third inning with two consecutive singles, but they then hit into a 6-4-3 double play followed by a groundout.
· Talladega threatened again in the top of the fifth by getting two hits, but a runner was thrown out trying to steal which stopped the momentum and brought the teams into the bottom of the fifth inning with the score still at 5-1 Eagles.
· In the bottom of the fifth, Kalyn Jinks doubled and then JJ Trowell brought her home with a single making the score, 6-1, heading into what-would-be the final inning of game two.
· Martinet, Jinks, and Emma Adams all had hits in the final inning leading to three more Reinhardt runs and a final score of 9-1.
· The bats came alive in game two for Reinhardt as it had 12 total hits by eight different players.
· Martinet's two-hit performance in game two made her 5-for-6 on the day with four RBIs, two runs scored, a homer and a walk.
· Jinks and Adams also had two RBIs apiece in game two.
As Reinhardt moves into mostly AAC play, they will soon be up against two other teams who currently have perfect conference records as well.
Milligan (Tenn.) is 6-0 in AAC play and 11-1 overall. The Eagles will welcome the Buffaloes to town on March 21 for a doubleheader.
Twenty-fourth-ranked Truett McConnell (Ga.), who was previously ranked no. 9, is 3-0 in the AAC and 9-4 overall. The Eagles will travel to Cleveland, Ga., on March 30 for a doubleheader with the Bears.
As for the next outing, Reinhardt will play its third doubleheader in just as many days tomorrow when it faces Montreat (N.C.) at home in an AAC battle.
First pitch of game one is set for 4 p.m.
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