Lady Cobras Swept by Lees-McRae

Courtesy of Kevin Young, Lees-McRae SID
4/5/2009

BANNER ELK, N.C. - Magen West worked 15 innings in the circle and picked up both wins as the Lees-McRae College Lady Bobcats (19-15, 7-7) swept, 5-4 and 4-1, the Coker College Lady Cobras (14-15, 6-8) in Conference Carolinas softball action.

West's back-to-back complete games wins gave the Lady Bobcats their first sweep of Coker over four years. In her 15 innings, she compiled 10 strikeouts, allowed 18 hits and only walked one batter. She only allowed five runs, four earned, for a 1.87 era.

On the offensive side for Lees-McRae Meagen Knowles continued her hot hitting over the weekend by going 4-for-6, .667 batting average, on the day. Knowles had four singles, scored three runs, had two RBI and was stole a base in her only attempt. On the weekend, Knowles was 7-for-12 with a .583 batting average. She drove in five RBI and scored five runs.

As a team, Lees-McRae batted an impressive .346 on the day, while Coker only hit .281.

In game one, Brittany Owens put the Lady Cobras on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth inning with a solo blast over the centerfield fence.

But, Lees-McRae quickly responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. West, Paula Fryar and Anna Carter started the inning off with back-to-back-to-back singles. Carter's single drove in West to tie the game and sent Fryar to third. The Lady Bobcats manufactured a run when Carter took off second on the pitch and drew a throw allowing Fryar to score from third to give the team a 2-0 lead. Then with one out, Knowles singled to put runners on the corners for Amanda Leonard, who stroked a two-run double down the left field line that extended the lead to 4-1.

Coker tied the game at four in the sixth inning with three runs on five hits. The highlight of the inning was an RBI double by Allie Bragg.

After a scoreless seventh, the game headed into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, with the international tiebreak in effect, West got Owens to line into to Ashley Benfield at third, who alertly doubled off the runner placed at second to start the inning. West got the final out of the inning on a ground ball to Knowles at second.

In the home half of the eighth, Paula Fryar was placed at second and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Carter. Kim Coley delivered the game winner with a single to right that scored Fryar and give Lees-McRae a 5-4 win.

Coley was 3-for-4 with the game-winning RBI, and Knowles was 2-for-3 to lead the Lady Bobcats. Leonard delivered two RBI.

Owens led the Lady Cobras by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Miranda Klees had two hits in three plate appearances, as well.

In game two, West pitched out of two jams in the first and second innings while the offensive came through with two runs in each inning.

In the first inning, Veronica Ollier led off with a single and then stole second and third. Knowles drove in Ollier with a single to left, and later scored when West singled to center.

In the second inning, RBI singles by Knowles and Carter extended the Lees-McRae lead to 4-0.

In the top of the third West again worked out of a jam. After a single and a double to lead off the inning, West got three fly outs to strand the runners and preserve the lead.

In the fourth inning the Cobras loaded the bases with one out, but West got a comebacker and turned a 1-2-3 double play with Fryar to escape her fourth jam of the game.

Coker scored their only run off West in the top of the seventh on an Owens RBI double to right center. West stranded runners on second and third to earn the 4-1 win for Lady Bobcats.

Knowles, who was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, led Lees-McRae offensively. Ollier and Benfield were both had one hit in two plate appearances.

Klees and Owens paced Coker by going 3-for-4 at the plate. Two of Owens' three hits were doubles.

Lees-McRae will host Limestone College Tuesday, April 7th at 2:00 p.m. for their next game, weather permitting, while Coker will host Erskine at the same time.