Eagles Take Road Sweep as Geuther Records Win No. 300
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
WEST POINT, Ga. – Winning on the road in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is never easy, and doing so coming from behind is even harder, but the Eagles did both on Friday in a doubleheader sweep over Point (Ga.), 7-4 and 4-3.
The hometown team (24-4, 8-0 AAC), who has won 14-straight, stayed atop the conference with the victories and helped head coach Jade Geuther earn career triumph No. 300 in the process.
"Lindsey was absolutely outstanding in the circle today," Geuther said. "She came into two pressure situations and shut down a very good Point team. Our lefties won't get the credit they deserve because they didn't hit the ball out of the park, but Megan, Alise and Jill had very big hits today; then the long ball is always nice and we had four of those – two from Emily and one each from Lauren and Natalie.
"As far as win No. 300 goes, I have been fortunate to coach a lot of talented individuals, and they are the ones that win the games… Today was no different."
Game 1, W (7-4)
- The Skyhawks were able to hold their own against Reinhardt starter Reagen Radke, as they scratched across a tally in the bottom of the first and another in the fourth to tie the score at 2-2.
- The Eagles tied the game in the third frame thanks to an error and then took the early 2-1 advantage in the fourth after a Natalie Parlato blast to left.
- Point regained its cushion in the fifth by two tallies after an error in the outfield and an RBI-groundout made the scoreboard, 4-2, in favor of the host.
- Emily Loveless rose to the occasion in the top of the sixth and got her team tied once more compliments of a 2-run homer (4-4), and then Lauren Parker hit the game-winning shot in the seventh for the 7-4 final.
- Lindsey Shepherd got the win in relief after going the final two frames and surrendering just one hit and striking out a pair.
Game 2, W (4-3)
- The power continued into the second contest for the hometown team as Emily Loveless got her club up early with a 2-run homer in the top of the first.
- The Skyhawks cut their deficit to 2-1 in the bottom-half on a double, and again jumped back in front in the fifth (3-2) on a single and a bases-loaded walk.
- Up against the wall once again, the Eagles came through in the sixth on a SAC fly (Autumn Bible) and netted the game-winning score on an RBI-double from Emma Adams that scored Loveless – who got on base earlier with a single.
- Lindsey Shepherd again shined with the ball in her hands after being called on once more, this time to finish the last three innings, which she did; surrendering just two hits, walking one and striking out another.
- Reinhardt combined for 11 hits, and individually, both Alise Hooks and Megan Huss were 3-for-4 with a run scored.
The squad comes back to Waleska for more conference action as a six-game homestand begins with Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday against Milligan (Tenn.) at 1 p.m.
The Buffaloes are tied at the top of the league standings with Reinhardt at 8-0.
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