CLINTON, S.C. -- Junior catcher Ilencia Lightbody's three-run homer and RBI single in the sixth inning helped the Morehead State softball team break through after a 3-0 early deficit to beat the Presbyterian Blue Hose 6-3 Friday in the Pinnacle PC Invitational.
"Honestly, I don't see the pitch when I hit home runs. I was just thinking that I needed to trust my instincts to react to the pitch because I had two strikes. So I knew I needed to battle to get the job done, which was scoring my teammates," Lightbody said. "My teammates did a great job having productive AB's (at bats) to get in scoring position. So I wanted to hit the ball hard to give them the best chance to score."
LIghtbody's RBI single in the sixth turned out to be the game winner. Despite being MSU's fourth batter of the inning, her hit was the team's third of the frame.0
"My RBI single was also on two strikes, and again I just wanted to do my job to move and score the runners," she added. "Hitting was definitely contagious today! The entire team came out on fire for our first game day and we really showed off all the work we've put in so far. We wanted to support Addie and Jessie and help them feel confident stepping on the mound."
Freshman pitcher Addie Stem (1-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Morehead State (1-1), her first career win. The right-hander went five shutout innings, giving up four hits, one walk and striking out two. The Eagles collected their first win in 2024 by defeating the team coached by the program's former bench boss, David Williams.
Lightbody led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 2-for-3. Freshman Kendra Lewis furnished a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBI. Senior Peyton Jordan also helped out, going 2-for-4.
"Game two, we cleaned up the defense,"MSU head coach Megan Griffith said. "Ilencia hit a 3-run bomb to tie us up and from there we kept it rolling on offense. We had a strong short game on offense as well. Addie came in in relief again and did a great job."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles were trailing 3-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. Morehead State scored three times, all of them coming across on the three-run homer off the bat of Lightbody, her second career round-tripper.
The score stayed at 3-3 until the sixth inning, when the Eagles put runs on the scoreboard once again. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run single off the bat of Lewis. Lightbody drove home Jordan with the go-ahead run for MSU.
GAME NOTES
» The contest marked MSU's second straight game where it erased as much as a three-run deficit to take a lead.
» Morehead State went 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers limited Presbyterian to just 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 29 Presbyterian hitters in the game, allowing 15 ground balls and two fly balls while striking out two.
UP NEXT
MSU returns to action Saturday with games against Valparaiso (10 a.m. ET) and Youngstown State (12:15 p.m.).
