MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) softball team was held scoreless by the pitching of Miles College for the first four innings at Murray Field on Sunday afternoon, but used a 3-run 5
th and a one more run in the 6
th to squeak out a 4-3 win over a determined Golden Bears team.
Miles (0-16) pitcher Emerald Coachman (0-4) frustrated the Badgers much of the day, allowing just two hits in the first four innings as the Bears built a 2-0 lead off runs in the 2
nd and 5
th frames before SHC answered with three runs in the 5
th inning. Third baseman
Delaney Thomas started the rally by delivering a single to right to plate left fielder
Elise Caruso who had reached on a leadoff infield error. First baseman
Paityn Desormeaux then came through with a two-out, seeing-eye grounder through the left side to bring in Thomas and shortstop
Hannah Fillmore.
Second baseman Alexus Cobb-Martinez responded for Miles with a two-out, game-tying solo shot out of left field in the top of the 6
th inning, but SHC picked itself up once again in the bottom half when Thomas came up with another safety to right to put second baseman
Madison Koger across home plate.
Coachman was a thorn in the Badgers' side all day, not only holding them to seven hits with five walks and no strikeouts, but also collecting a single, double and triple at the plate.
SHC starter
Hannah Brenton (6-3) went 6.2 innings allowing nine hits and a walk with four strikeouts before surrendering the circle to Desormeaux for the final out – who, of course, was Coachman with a runner on 2
nd base. Desormeaux earned her third save of the year by getting the Bear bruiser to top a 1-1 pitch to Thomas for the clean throw across the infield.
Thomas had two hits and two RBI for SHC while Desormeaux added her two hits and an RBI.
The second game of the planned doubleheader was canceled due to a travel curfew for Miles forced to the surface following a 45-minute rain-delay before the first pitch.
The Badgers (12-7) now travel to Columbus, Ga. on Tuesday, April 6, to face the Cougars (16-8) of Columbus State University (CSU) in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. (EDT) at Cougar Field.
