Trudging through a difficult opening slate, the Orange softball team has had its its and downs offensively.
On Thursday night, they hit full stride against a familiar name from Creedmoor.
Senior Hayleigh Hammond hit an inside the park home run as the Lady Panthers struck for four runs in the second inning to defeat South Granville 11-6 at Orange Softball Field. Hammond ripped a low bouncer that hopped in front of the third base bag and faded into the left corner. By the time Vikings left fielder A’Niyah Johnson got the cutoff throw to shortstop Avery Wilson, Orange’s Valentina Rodriguez and Payton Adams has already scored. Hammond was around third and Wilson’s throw from shallow left field was wide of the plate.
Orange’s Malynne Roemmich drove in the opening Lady Panther un with a bloop that landed fair by about five feet along the right field line, bringing in Mariah Cook.
Roemmnich, a sophomore, finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. She pushed the Orange lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the third with a two-run single up the middle to bring in Addison Guentensberger and Ward.
With one out in the fourth, sophomore Mary Kate Ollis parked a changeup over the centerfield fence to push Orange’s advantage to 7-3.
Orange pushed its advantage to 11-4 with four runs in the fifth. Kylee Allen skied a pop-up that dropped fair along the left field line to score Cook. Hammond advanced to third and then scored when Ollis lofted a single to centerfield. Guentensberger knocked in two runs with a ball went off the glove of Wilson, who had taken over as pitcher in place of tarter Halley Whitefield. The ball rolled into left field and scored Ollis and Allen.
Roemmich earned the win in the circle for the Lady Panthers, throwing a complete game.
Southeast Alamance 5, Orange 0:
Freshman Mayla Woody threw a two-hit, complete game shutout as the Stallions continued an undefeated start to the season with a 5-0 victory over Orange on Thursday.
Woody struck out seven. The Stallions won despite only registering three hits.
Allen and Ollis were the lone Panthers to register hits.
Katie Lloyd scored the opening run for Southeast after starting the game getting hit by Orange pitcher Lexi Bowes. Lloyd stole second, tagged up to take third off a flyout to right field hit by Ava Wheeler and scored off a groundout hit by Ashtyn Smith.
Woody walked to open the fourth inning. She went to second following a sacrifice bunt by Brooke Harvester and scored off a double to centerfield by Gracyn Lee. Southeast’s Addison Reich followed with another double to bring in Lee.
The Stallions, in just its third season, are 9-0 overall, 5-0 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. They’re tied for first with nearby rival Eastern Alamance.
Orange 20, Carrboro 0, 5 innings
Senior Natalie Roberson delivered a grand slam as the Lady Panthers won its first game of the season on Tuesday.
Roberson and Hamon each homered as Orange pounded out nine hits with eleven walks. Lexi Bowes earned the win throw two-plus innings of shutout ball.
Orange broke open a scoreless game in the third inning with four runs. Brooklyn Bailey singled to right field with one out, which was followed by a walk by Hammond. With two down, Allen drilled a single to right field to bring in Bailey and Hammond. Allen scored when Guentensberger reached on an error by the first baseman. Katie Carden, who has committed to play at Queen’s University, reached on an infield single, allowing Guentensberger to score the fourth run.
Orange added 12 runs in the fifth inning leading to its first run-rule victory of the year. Roberson delivered the grand slam. Hammond finished 2-for-4 while Allen scored three runs.
