Late game heroics give Bishop softball conference sweep

Rocky Mount, NC - North Carolina Wesleyan swept its opening USA South softball doubleheader on Sunday, recording two come-from-behind wins over Shenandoah University at Edge Field.  Junior Ashlee Bass delivered a walk-off two-run double in game one to give the Bishops a 3-2 win, while Courtney Tucker (pictured) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI in a 4-3 game two victory.  Pitcher Libby Fulford earned both wins on the mound for the Bishops, who are now 9-1 overall, 2-0 in conference action.  The Hornets drop to 1-7 on the season, 0-2 in league play.

In the opener, Shenandoah scored two runs on one hit and two Lady Bishop errors in the third inning.  SU hurler Katie Haskins made the 2-0 lead stand over the next 3.2 innings, but Wesleyan managed to plate three runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to steal the victory.

Down to their last at-bat, Fulford ignited the Bishop rally with a sharp one-out single to center.  Haskins rebounded to strike out the next batter, leaving her just one out away from her first victory.  Denise Pope, however, kept Wesleyan’s hopes alive with a single to left.  Shelley Hinson then drew a walk, and Krystal Newbern followed suit with an infield single that made it 2-1 in favor of the Hornets. 

The stage was then set for Bass’ heroics, and Shenandoah could only watch as the junior All-American drilled a 3-2 pitch off the fence in right-center to plate Pope and Hinson with the game-tying and game-winning runs.

Bass had two of the Bishops’ six hits, while Fulford earned the win on the mound.  She tossed seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits. 

Haskins suffered the loss in the complete game effort, striking out five and walking three.

In the nightcap, SU took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first, but Wesleyan answered with RBI-singles by Fulford and Tucker in the second and third frames, respectively.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the fourth, the Hornets took their second lead of the contest with two unearned runs.  Alicia Sanders scored on a Bishop throwing error and Mandy Reed on a passed ball.

But the Bishops had yet another rally in store and scored two runs in the fifth off of SU reliever Brittany Bailey.  Bass and Tucker led off the inning with singles and advanced to second and third on a sac-bunt by Hannah Hardy.  Bailey then forced a pop-up, only to watch Fulford deliver a clutch two-out single to left that scored Bass.  Tucker also came around on the play as the Hornet left-fielder misplayed the ball.

Fulford, who relieved starter Karen Hathcock, turned in three 1-2-3 innings en route to her sixth win of the season.  Bailey took the loss after allowing the two runs (one earned) on four hits in 3.2 innings of work.

Bass, Tucker, and Fulford each had two hits for the Bishops, while Reed led the Hornet offense with two base-knocks of her own.

Wesleyan continues USA South play on Tuesday when the Bishops travel to Averett University.  Game one is slated to start at 2:00 p.m. in Danville, VA.