Rocky Mount, N.C. - North Carolina Wesleyan softball hosted Mary Baldwin for a Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Edge Field, splitting the twin bill in front of a strong home crowd.
In game one, the Battling Bishops were edged 3-1 despite a competitive effort throughout. After three scoreless innings, Mary Baldwin broke through with a three-run fourth inning to take control. Wesleyan answered in the fifth when Brooke Markiewicz singled and later came around to score on an error after back-to-back hits from Ragan Holloman and Markiewicz to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Bishops totaled six hits in the contest, with Holloman and Savannah Bain each recording two hits. Ava Strickland went the distance in the circle, striking out seven while allowing three runs, but Wesleyan was unable to find the timely hit late to complete the comeback.
Wesleyan responded in game two with an explosive offensive performance, rolling to a 10-2 victory to earn the split on Senior Day. The Bishops struck first in the opening inning when Kayla Simmons drove in Brooke Markiewicz, and after Mary Baldwin took a 2-1 lead, Wesleyan erupted in the fourth inning. The Bishops plated eight runs in the frame, highlighted by RBI hits from Vivian Lloyd, Brooke Markiewicz, Ragan Holloman, and Kayla Simmons, along with a two-run home run from Kyiah Simmons to break the game open. Wesleyan finished with 14 hits in the contest, with Kayla Simmons going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Markiewicz and Lloyd each added multiple hits. Kendall Wallace earned the win in the circle, allowing just two runs on three hits over five innings.
The split provided a fitting Senior Day result for the Battling Bishops, as Wesleyan showcased resilience in game two with a dominant offensive showing in front of its home crowd.
