February 2020, Sports

Lady Falcons’ softball team off to rough start

The Lady Falcons softball team finished their 2019 season with a record of 5-19 and are hoping for a better season in 2020.

They began their season with a doubleheader at USC Aiken in South Carolina on Feb. 7. Going up against a team that was undefeated at the time on their home turf proved too much for the Lady Falcons.

In the first game, infielder Brianna Person was the only Lady Falcon who got a hit. Pitcher Makayla August kept the Lady Falcons in the game for the first few innings but the Pacers exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning. Eventually the Lady Falcons lost that game 8-0.

In the second game, the Pacers jumped out to an early lead, scoring nine runs in the first inning. The Lady Falcons did come back with two runs in the second inning, but it was not enough. USC went on to win that game 10-2.

The key hitters for the second game were both newcomers Yasmine Thompson and Shaquelle Bain. They were both 1 for 2 on the plate.

The Lady Falcons also lost a doubleheader Feb. 15 – by scores of 19-0 and 10-7 – against Bluefield State. The bright spot in those losses was that the Lady Falcons’ offense showed a lot of strength, banging out 20 hits in the two games.

The Lady Falcons lost another doubleheader on Feb. 18 to Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., by scores of 7-2 and 12-0. The team’s record now stands at 0-6 overall.

But the season is still young. All of the losses so far have been in preseason games that do not count against the team’s conference record. Conference play begins March 13 with the CIAA Roundup in Elizabeth City, N.C.

The Lady Falcons returned nine players this season to all different positions and has potential for experience and teamwork to kick in as the season progresses.

— By Nia Phillips