#MustangsWin! #24 Softball Sweeps Cottey in Dramatic Fashion in Season Opener!

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – After seeing the 2022 season opener get pushed back twice, #24 Central Baptist College softball opened the season tonight at City of Colleges Park against the Comets of Cottey College, a future American Midwest Conference opponent. CBC (2-0) won in dramatic fashion twice, trailing late in both games before using power to sweep the doubleheader by scores of 7-5 and 9-6 over Cottey (0-2).

            Hannah Work and Averie Ayers were the starters in the circle, with Work earning the first game after her AMC Freshman of the Year performance last season. Savannah Sanford and Maggi Huddleston both homered and both home runs played pivotal roles in each win.

GAME ONE – CBC 7, COTTEY 5

            Work held Cottey scoreless in the top of the first and the Mustangs capitalized on that, with Kirstie Blackwood getting in a rundown to score Averie Ayers and give CBC a 1-0 lead. Following back-to-back scoreless frames, a Blackwood single in the fourth to score Tobi Finley stretched CBC's lead to 2-0. Cottey would cut the lead in half in the fifth, but CBC stretched the back to two courtesy of an Averie Ayers single to score Victoria Lasker and make it 3-1. Cottey immediately turned the game upside down, scoring four times in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead headed to the bottom half. The resilient Mustangs responded, getting a two-run homer from Sanford, her first, an RBI single from Huddleston to give CBC a 6-5 lead and a bases loaded walk to Ayers for an insurance run. Huddleston would then retire the side in order in the seventh to secure the victory. Work got a no decision, but allowed just one hit and one earned in four and two thirds with a strikeout. Ysabella Esquivel also pitched, allowing three earned on two hits in a third of an inning and Huddleston, who picked up the win, allowed a hit and an earned run in two innings while also striking out one.

GAME TWO – CBC 9, COTTEY 6

            CBC would strike quickly again in game two, getting a sac fly from Tobi Finley to score Ayers and make it 1-0 after one. Cottey would score twice in the second to lead 2-1, but a two run single by Ayers in the bottom half gave CBC a 3-2 lead. Cottey would tie the game at three in the third and then take a 4-3 lead on a home run in the fourth. Following a scoreless fifth inning, pinch hitter Heather Hoffman tied the game at four with an RBI single. Cottey would get a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to take a 6-4 lead, setting up drama in the bottom half. Esquivel would lead off the inning with a single, then following a fielder's choice and a fly out, Katie Smith singled to put runners on the corners with two outs. A walk to Lauren Anderson loaded the bases and Finley, who hit into the fielder's choice, would score on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 6-5. Another walk to Madi Spears, who went 5-5 in the doubleheader, reloaded the bases and setup Huddleston, who hit a walk-off grand slam, the first of her Mustang career, to give CBC the sweep. Ayers did not factor in the decision, throw one and a third and allowing two earned on a hit with two strikeouts. Emily Cole relieved Ayers and threw one and two thirds, allowing two hits and two earned runs. Alex Jeter picked up the win, pitching four innings and allowing two earned on three hits with two strikeouts.

UP NEXT

            CBC heads to Pineville, La., on Friday and Saturday for the Generals Showdown. On Friday, CBC will play Texas Wesleyan at 5 p.m. and the co-host school, Louisiana Christian at 7 p.m. and then on Saturday, the #24 Mustangs will face #13 Central Methodist at 10 a.m. and then Blue Mountain College, the team they eliminated at last year's Opening Round, at 2 p.m. You can follow the action all weekend long on social media.