DECATUR, Ga.—Agnes Scott Softball dropped a pair of games to NAIA foe Point University on a rainy Friday evening at Oakhurst Park. The Skyhawks needed a seventh-inning rally to beat the Scotties 2-1 in game one before running away with game two, 10-2.
Point evens its 2019 record at 4-4, while Agnes Scott falls to 0-4 to start the year. All four games have come against non-NCAA opponents thus far for the Scotties.
Game One
A defensive battle throughout, Agnes Scott was the first to break through in the bottom of the third inning when Caitlin Weaver (Jacksonville, Fla.) doubled with one out and subsequently stole third to set up Sarah Fox (Cartersville, Ga.) for the RBI.
Point answered right back in the fourth as Shatima Smith (Lineville, Ala.) led off the inning with a double to the wall in left field. Agnes starter Kayla Spinks (Social Circle, Ga.) was able to get two quick outs after the extra-base hit, but Britney Rice (Dadeville, Ala.) came up with a clutch pinch-hit single to plate Smith for the equalizer.
The game remained knotted until the top of the seventh. Agnes Scott was able to retire the first two batters, but a two-out double from Michelle Donner (Clarksville, Tenn.) extended the frame. Annsley Brown (Taylor, Ala.) made the Scotties pay with a single into center to score Donner for the go-ahead.
Agnes Scott looked poised to send the game into extras after senior Nicole Gilkeson (Atlanta, Ga.) nailed a pitch to the wall in right for a double. Gilkeson was able to get to third on a sacrifice to give the Scotties a runner a base away with only one out. Point starter Ryan Simpson (Valley, Ala.) was able to get the final two batters to ground out back to the circle to eliminate the threat and preserve the win.
Game Two
Point put the Scotties in a big hole before an out could even be recorded. The Skyhawks scored three in the first, two coming directly off of an error, pushed Weaver out of the game before she could get in a rhythm. Spinks came back in to pitch for the Scotties and repeatedly got them out of jams in the middle innings.
The Skyhawks pushed their advantage to six runs by the middle of the sixth thanks to another handful of defensive miscues committed by the Scotties.
No-hit through five, Agnes' offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth with timely hits from first-years Jani Howington (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Michaela Dailey (Smiths Station, Ala.) and Fox. Howington and Dailey each had RBI knocks in the frame with Dailey missing a two-run jack by mere inches.
Down 6-2, Agnes Scott was able to load the bases with two outs in the sixth until Allie Beilstein (Montgomery, Ala.) re-entered the game to end the threat with a strikeout.
Point added four more runs in the top of the seventh off a pair of errors to make it a 10-2 game.
Stat Leaders
- Simpson picked up her first win of the season for the Hawks, striking out eight while only allowing one run. Beilstein followed it up with seven strong innings where she K'd nine Scotties and surrendered two runs.
- Spinks pitched 13 innings between the two games while striking out 10 batters and only giving up three earned runs.
What's Next?
Sunday's home doubleheader versus West Georgia Tech has been postponed until March 14 due to impending rain. The Scotties will be back in action on Thursday with a quick road trip to Brenau for a 4 p.m. start.