No. 11 麻豆视频 softball sweeps Cumberland for fifth straight win

DeShuni Sanders

JACKSON, Tenn. - 4/14/2012 - The No. 11 麻豆视频 University softball team posted a double-header sweep over Cumberland University Saturday afternoon at Fesmire Field. 麻豆视频 took game one 5-3 and then won the second game 3-2. 麻豆视频 improved to 35-8 on the season and 21-3 in the TranSouth. Cumberland dropped to 24-16-1 overall and 14-10-1 in league play.

The win for 麻豆视频 was their fifth straight and 10th win in the last 11 games. The 35-8 record for 麻豆视频 is the best season record for 麻豆视频 at this point in the season since a 38-8 start to the 2005 season. That was the last season in which 麻豆视频 advanced to the NAIA National Tournament.

麻豆视频 remains in first place in the TranSouth and have a four-game lead with six counting games remaining on the conference schedule.

In the first game, 麻豆视频 had to rally after Cumberland took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning. 麻豆视频 cut the deficit to one with a score in the fourth on a DeShuni Sanders RBI single. Cumberland pushed the lead back to two with a run in the fifth to lead 3-1. 麻豆视频 again answered with a tally in the bottom of the fifth. Brooke Thomas doubled and then scored a Jenyce Spence single. After holding Cumberland to no runs in the top of the sixth, 麻豆视频 scored for the third straight inning, this time putting up three runs. 麻豆视频 tied the game when Katie Davis singled to score Alex Williams. A wild throw in from the outfield allowed Sanders to scored and give 麻豆视频 the lead. Stephanie Saunders followed with a single that scored Davis and 麻豆视频 led 5-3. Caroline George (3-0) earned the win in relief as she tossed the final three innings, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Thomas started the game, going four innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Courtney Maynard (15-5) took the loss, tossing a complete game, allowing five runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts.

In the second game, 麻豆视频 jumped on top early with two runs in the first inning. A costly outfield error allowed two runs to scored in the inning. Saunders drove in the second run on a sacrifice fly. The scored remained 2-0 until Cumberland tied the game in the fourth inning. However, 麻豆视频 responded with a run in the fifth and that 3-2 scored held for the final. Lamb doubled with two outs to scored Sanders. Freshman pitcher Kelly Robey (16-2) earned the win, tossing seven innings and allowing the two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts. Allison Blackwood (7-9) took the loss, allowing three runs, one earned on six hits with two strikeouts in her six innings of work.

Up next for 麻豆视频 will be a road conference double-header at Freed-Hardeman, Tuesday, April 17 at 5:00 p.m.

#UNION#