Ferrum Knocks Out Softball

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BURLINGTON, N.C. – Ferrum College is one game away from playing for the USA South Conference softball Tournament championship after downing Shenandoah University 2-1 in the loser's bracket semi-finals Saturday afternoon at Springwood Park.

For the second straight game, Ferrum (30-15) rallied to stave off elimination. Earlier Saturday, the Panthers scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Methodist 6-5 and put themselves into the contest against Shenandoah (21-17-1).

In the contest against the Hornets, SU had scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first before FC scored a pair in the third.

Both runs scored on the same play. With one out, Hannah Shumaker lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score Heather Littles from third. As the throw came in from Shenandoah left fielder Shatora Lane, Kanisha Hancock advanced from second to third.

SU elected to try and cut Hancock down at third base, but the Denise Mitchell relay throw from home sailed into left field and Hancock was able to come home with the eventual game winning run.

Shumaker gave the Panthers an insurance run with a 3-2, two-out bases loaded single through the left side to score pinch runner Jasmine Parker from third in the seventh. Parker was running for Megan Barger, who had reached via a single.

The Hornets first inning run came thanks to a leadoff walk, a sacrifice and a Lauren Wall single to right.

Wall's hit was one of four that SU had in the contest. Lane led SU with two hits in four at-bats.

Kaitlyn Culler scattered four hits and the one run to earn the complete game victory.

Brooke Over (11-9) was the loser for Shenandoah. She gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk. Over also struck out three.