Lady Pioneers Sweep USC Lancaster

Spartanburg, SC - The Pioneer softball continued their strong play with a four game weekend sweep over first year USC-Lancaster.

Saturday was all Pioneers as they took game one 17-0 and game two 7-0. Alison Ruppe (East Rutherford HS) picked up the five inning shutout in game one allowing two hits and striking out seven. Every starter collected at least one hit. 

Morgan Cox (Hillcrest HS) had three hits, Amanda Hayes (Pickens HS) had two hits including a homerun. Casey Shue (Concord HS) scored four runs while Cox, Brittany Phillips (Broome HS), Bailey Smith (Crest HS) all scored three runs each. The Pioneers collected 17 total hits in all.

Game two was again all Pioneers. Britni Ward (Union HS) took the mound and tossed a complete game one hit shutout. She recorded five strikeouts and one walk.

Morgan Cox and Brittany Phillips continued to set the table for the Pioneers by collecting five hits and scoring four runs between them. Jessica Bonham (Nations Ford HS), Maddie Sharpe (White Knoll HS), Morgan Blanton (Crest HS), and Emily Kirby (White Knoll HS) rounded out the hitting for SMC by collecting a hit each.

Sunday was a two game sweep for the Pioneers but Lancaster put up a strong fight in the process.

With SMC leading 1-0 the Lady Lancers collected five runs in the top of the third off starter Caroline Pastre (Stratford HS). Sophomore Ashira Dobison (Colleton HS) relieved Pastre and allowed only one run on five hits in 4 2/3 innings pitched. She struck out three.

While Dobison held the Lancers in check the Pioneer offense had to come from behind. They picked up three runs in the third and one in the fourth to tie the game at 5-5.

USC-L took the lead in the seventh inning 6-5. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh Bailey Smith laced a double down the left field line. Jennifer Bonham (Nations Ford HS) pinch ran for Smith.

Amanda Hayes walked to set the stage for freshman Jessica Bonham. Bonham calmly roped a single to center field scoring her sister to tie the game. Kelsey Pruitt (South Florence HS) smacked a double off the left field wall scoring Hayes and giving the Pioneers a walk off win 7-6.

In game four,  the Lady Pioneers sent Bailey Smith to the mound and picked up a 8-1 win.

Jessica Bonham and Maddie Sharpe collected two hits and two rbi's each.  Leea Polin Fort Dorchester HS), Jena Westmoreland (Mauldin HS), Brittany Phillips, and Morgan Cox each collected one hit. Smith went 6 innings, allowing one run on seven hits. Alison Ruppe closed out the game with one inning pitched.  

The Lady Pioneers improved to 24-15 and 17-5 in Region 10.

Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The College is in its 100th academic year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.
 
For more information please contact athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.