YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Nikkie Kovalsky threw a complete game shutout and
Michalyn Bingham hit a grand slam en route to a doubleheader sweep of the University of West Georgia in a non-conference softball doubleheader Wednesday (April 17) afternoon at the YHC Softball Field.
The Mountain Lions captured the opener 6-0 behind Kovalsky's (21-9) two-hit shutout before taking game two 4-3. Young Harris, who is ranked ninth in the first NCAA Division II Southeast regional ranking, improved to 32-16, while the Wolves fell to 23-25. The Mountain Lions host the University of South Carolina Aiken in a 2 p.m. Peach Belt Conference doubleheader Saturday (April 20) at the YHC Softball Field.
Kovalsky allowed a lead off single to UWG in game one but then set down the next 17 batters with seven strikeouts. Young Harris tallied two runs in the first inning after
Jill Torres drew a bases-loaded walk and
Grace Botti hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored
Haylie Shope.
Bingham hit a grand slam to right center in the bottom of the fifth inning, her first home run of the season, to put the Mountain Lions up 6-0.
Kovalsky picked up the win for Young Harris as she allowed only two hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in a complete game shutout.
Bingham collected a hit, four RBI, and a run scored. while Torres went 1-for-2 with two walks, a RBI, and a run scored.
Morgan Curley for 0-for-0 as she collected four walks in the leadoff spot.
Emily Harris had one hit and a run scored, while Botti had one RBI.
Morgan Goree (4-3) earned the loss for the Wolves as she gave up six runs on three hits with nine walks and seven strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Katelynn Hodges put the Mountain Lions on the board first in game two with a two RBI double to left field. Curley added the third run of the inning with a single to right field that scored Hodges.
Torres hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season to right field to extend the YHC lead to 4-1. West Georgia picked up two runs in the sixth inning to bring the score within one (4-3).
Louisa Disi (10-5) picked up the win for Young Harris as she gave up three runs on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched. Kovalsky notched her first save of the season as she allowed two hits in one inning of scoreless relief.
Curley went 3-for-4 with a RBI, while Hodges went 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. Torres had one hit, one RBI, and two runs scored.
Kristan Lizardi tallied a hit and a run scored. Botti, Bingham, and Harris each added one hit.
Raya Moncus (6-7) earned the loss for the Wolves as she gave up four runs on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings pitched.
