Softball Claws Cougars

DANVILLE, Va. - Shenandoah University evened up its USA South Conference softball record with a doubleheader sweep over Averett University Saturday afternoon.

Shenandoah (9-5, 2-2 USA South) was an 9-3 winner in the opener before holding on to win 8-6 in the nightcap.

The Hornets trailed that nightcap after Averett (2-11, 0-2) scored two runs in the first.

SU took the lead for good by scoring four times in the second, added a single run in the third and three more in the fifth to finish off the sweep.

Freshman Lauren McCabe was nearly unstoppable in the two games, going a combined 7 for 8 with seven RBI.

She was 3 for 4 with three RBI on a pair of doubles in game two.

Junior Jolisa Jones and sophomore Shatora Lane matched McCabe with three hits each in the nightcap.

Freshman Amanda Litwin (5-2) had three strikeouts in the complete game victory.

Five runs in the first three innings of the opener gave the Hornets an insurmountable lead.

Junior Ashley Plaugher backed up McCabe's 4 for 4 performance with three hits in three at-bats.

Sophomore Brooke Over (4-3) scattered six hits and two runs (one earned) in 6.0 innings before freshman Ashley Stegemiller recorded the final three outs.

Shenandoah is back in action Sunday at Eastern Mennonite.