SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Lady Lions softball team swept Spartanburg Methodist in a Friday doubleheader at Grant Field, winning the opener 2–1 before taking the nightcap 4–1 to improve to 6–4 in Appalachian Athletic Conference play.
Game 1: Bryan 2, Spartanburg Methodist 1
Maddie Lee earned the win in the circle, going six innings and allowing one earned run on five hits.
Ava Saul closed out the seventh with a scoreless inning to earn her first save of the season.
Lily Taylor provided all the offense Bryan needed, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs. The Lions scored first in the opening inning when
Juliana Santillanes came around to score on a Taylor sacrifice fly. Bryan added an insurance run in the sixth on a Taylor RBI single that plated
Lakyn Lockhart.
Spartanburg Methodist made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases before Jacie Ross singled home a run to cut the deficit to 2–1. Saul stranded three runners to close it out.
Game 2: Bryan 4, Spartanburg Methodist 1
KP Smith was dominant in the circle, throwing a complete-game seven innings and holding the Pioneers to four hits and one earned run while striking out four.
Ava Saul provided the offensive fireworks, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs.
Spartanburg Methodist scored first in the third inning when Saleena Rollins scored on a Gracie Starnes sacrifice fly. Bryan tied it in the sixth on a Saul solo home run to left field. The Lions broke the game open in the seventh with three runs, highlighted by a second Saul home run that pushed the lead to 4–1.
With the sweep, Bryan improves to 16–12 overall and 6–4 in the AAC. They will host Georgia Gwinnett on Tuesday for a doubleheader starting at 2:00 pm.
