Top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne University scored six runs in the bottom
of the first inning and went on to an 8-0 victory over Tusculum
College in winner's bracket action at the Food Lion South Atlantic
Conference Softball Championship Friday afternoon at Red Edmonds
Field.
The 21st-ranked Bears (44-11) will play third-seeded Anderson in
the winners bracket final on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., while Tusculum
(31-24) drops to the loser's bracket for a game against
sixth-seeded Brevard at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Jody Mizelle hit a leadoff home run and Megan Laxton added a
three-run shot in the first inning for the Bears, who piled up 11
hits in the game. Mizelle finished 2-for-3 with a triple, a home
run and two runs scored.
Dawon Millwood (30-6) allowed a leadoff single in the first inning
to the Pioneers' Savannah Ewing, then retired the final 15 batters,
including six on strikeouts, to lead the Bears to the win.
After Mizelle's home run off Tusculum starter Elizabeth Johnson
(26-11) gave the Bears a quick 1-0 lead, Lenoir-Rhyne added four
more hits and five more runs. A two-run single by Brittany Coursen
extended the Bears' lead to 3-0, and Laxton capped the inning with
her fifth home run of the year over the fence in left to give
Lenoir-Rhyne a 6-0 edge.
The Bears added two more runs in the second as Mizelle led off with
a triple and scored on a double by Carlee Carpenter. Sarah Atkins
drove home Carpenter with a two-out double to give Lenoir-Rhyne an
8-0 lead.
Johnson worked two innings for the Pioneers, surrendering all eight
runs on eight hits. Kaytlin Stroinski tossed two shutout innings of
relief, giving up three hits and striking out four.