Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

DANVILLE, Ky. – With a split of the double-header on Sunday, the Hendrix College softball team won three out of the four games in Southern Athletic Association play at Centre College. The Warriors (7-3, 3-1) won the first game 7-6, but the Colonels (2-4, 1-3) took the finale 6-1.

In the opener, junior left fielder Tiffany Hubbard led off the game by reaching on an error and sophomore shortstop Michaela Larabee knocked her in with a double. Senior pitcher Ashley Halbert was hit by a pitch and along with Larabee scored on an error after a Jill Sikes base hit.

Centre cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the first when right fielder Ashley Christian led off with a walk and scored on a base hit by shortstop Ashley Merkin. Halbert led the third off with a double and scored on a base hit from senior third baseman Paula Burr. The Colonels scored again in the bottom of the frame when Christian singled and Merkin drove her in.

Centre went up 5-4 in the fourth inning on a two-run double from Christian and another Merkin RBI-hit. Hendrix regained a 7-5 lead in the top of the sixth when senior center fielder Syndey Copeland led off with a base hit and junior second baseman Catelyn Gibbs reached on an error. Hubbard followed with a line drive, scoring Copeland. Gibbs then stole second and Larabee singled, which led to Gibbs scoring on interference. Freshman first baseman Shelby Anderson followed with a ground ball that plated Larabee.

The Colonels added one more run in the seventh on a RBI-double from Kara Drake.

Larabee went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a RBI and a double. Sikes and Copeland also had two hits each. Merkin went 3-for-4 with three RBI for Centre.

Halbert (4-2) hung on for the win, giving up 12 hits, six runs and three walks while striking out five. Emily Meador (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing 10 hits, three earned runs and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

In the nightcap, Centre outhit Hendrix 11-6.

The Colonels scored two in the first and three in the third to take a 5-0 lead. The Warriors' lone run came in the fourth when Halbert led off with a double, moved to second on a Burr sacrifice bunt and scored on an error after a walk issued to junior catcher DJ Sandidge. Centre added one more run in the fourth for the final tally.

Halbert went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double. Christian was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and left fielder Alisha Russell had two hits and two runs scored for the Colonels.

Emily Landherr (1-1) earned the win, allowing six hits, no earned runs and two walks with a strikeout. Sophomore Lauren Whitby (2-1) gave up 11 hits, six runs and a walk in the losing effort.

Hendrix will travel to Clarksville, Ark. on Tuesday for a double-header at the University of the Ozarks.