Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DANVILLE, Va. - Guilford's softball team headed up to Cougar Field at Averett University for an afternoon conference doubleheader. Leaving with a split, the Quakers fell in game one, 2-1, but made a comeback in the second contest, leaving with a 6-5 win.
 
This result doesn't change the Quakers' record too much, now standing at 15-19, and 7-9 in conference play. For the opposing Cougars, today's matches bring their record to 14-20, and in conference play to 8-10.
 
With conference play almost at a close, the Quakers sit in seventh, almost a lock for the ODAC tournament that will begin in just a few weeks. They have a two game conference lead over eighth-placed Eastern Mennonite, who they will play in less than a week.
 
In similar fashion to most other games this season, Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) went in as starting pitcher for game one, and the only pitcher of game one, throwing all seven innings. Upon four hits, two runs were scored, and she takes the pitching loss, her record drops to 7-5.
 
Just one hit and one run recorded in the first contest, each not related to the other. The initial play that resulted in the run was completed by an error, hence why it wasn't recorded as a hit. Overall, the offense was not up to par.
 
A list of pitchers for the Quakers in game two. First, Taylor Mitchell (St. Albans, Vt.) starting in her first contest of the season, threw for 2.1 innings, stuckout one, and is credited with the save (S, 1). Up next was Dillon Northen (Kernersville, N.C.), upon two hits, Averett scored two runs, both earned, also striking out one. Morgan Kinney (Browns Summit, N.C.) took to the mound for two innings and secured the pitching win, her record increasing to 3-3. Upon three hits and allowing two walks, the Cougars only tagged on one run. Lastly, Alexis Lester (Elkin, N.C.) allowed two runs on five hits, keeping Averett away just long enough to go home with a win.
 
Guilford's offense started off sub par in game two, but came to life in the fourth inning, leading to a Quaker victory, 6-5.
 
GAME 1
 
The first contest was low scoring throughout for both squads, however, Averett was able to get ahead enough to secure the victory. The Cougars started the first inning gaining one run. The next two innings were quiet until the Quakers made a move at the top of the fourth. On a sacrifice fly by Gray, Nicole Gumula (Wellington, Fla) who was pinch running for Kassidy Lancos (Irvine, Calif.) made it home. This run became unearned due to a fielding error by Averett's third baseman at the start of the frame.
 
Guilford scored no further runs, while Averett tacked on one more at the bottom of the fifth, finalizing their win, 2-1.
 
GAME 2
 
The Quaker's opened the second of the doubleheader, quick on the board. Boom, boom, boom, Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) singled through the left side and stole second. Then, Lancos reached second on a fielder's choice while in the meantime, Stoner advanced to third on a throwing error, then booking it back to home plate. This made the score 1-0, Guilford.
 
No runs were scored for both squads until again, in the third, the Quakers tallied one. In a very strategic sequence of plays, Grace Calus (Creedmoor, N.C.) was credited with the run. This was largely in part due to a sacrifice bunt by Lancos which put Calus at third base. Kylie Durden (Bladenboro, N.C.) then grounded out to the second baseman, resulting in Calus making it home, doubling the visitors' lead.
 
In the fourth inning, the Cougars tagged on two runs, making the game tied at two. Then, in the fifth inning, Averett took the lead, gathering one more run, inching ahead, 3-2.
 
Going into the sixth frame, Guilford picked up some momentum and finally found their groove. Lots of changes to the starting lineup, pinch hitter Kendall Boggs (Stoneville, N.C.) started it all off. She reached on fielder's choice before Emma Patterson (Mocksville, N.C.) went to pinch run for her. Patterson stole second, then after Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) doubled to right center, Patterson scored, though unearned.
 
As the inning unfolded, Alli Clemons (Cocoa, Fla.) doubled to left center, putting pinch hitter Kylee Duarte (Corona, Calif.) at third, and brought Johnson home.
 
At this moment, the Cougars made a pitching change, but this wasn't enough to stop the Quakers. Errors right and left for Averett, Clemons made it to third, and Duarte scored on a throwing arrow by the third baseman. Lastly, Calus had a ground ball to the third baseman, resulting in Clemons making it home. The Quakers now had a significant advantage, 6-3.
 
This glory was almost short lived, as the Cougars tallied two more runs in the seventh. The Quakers escaped just barely with a win, 6-5.
 
With just three more doubleheaders of the season remaining, the Quakers next travel to Sweet Briar, Virginia to take on Sweet Briar College. The conference doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, with start times at 1 and 3 p.m.