SOFTBALL: Cougars complete sweep of Warriors

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on March 7, 2017 10:31 AM

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Goldsboro refuses to give pitchers any time to relax.

From Riley Howell in the lead-off spot to Addie Shirley in the 9-hole, each Cougar swings with a purpose. It's a mission that was kicked into overdrive against Eastern Wayne Monday afternoon.

Goldsboro registered eight extra base hits, and cruised to a 13-6 victory over the Warriors. The Cougars also clinched the season sweep of the county rivalry.

"Good, aggressive swinging," said Cougars' head coach T.J. Lancaster. "Swinging at good pitches. So far in the season, I've been very pleased with how we're swinging the bats."

Goldsboro entered the matchup averaging 7.3 runs per game, and the offensive show kept rolling at New Hope.

Dakota Jones' two-RBI double increased the lead to 5-2 in the fourth. Then in the fifth inning, Abby Allen and Nikki Olmsted each knocked one-out singles. Marcy Taylor brought both runners home with a two-RBI double, and Grace Tart followed her with another RBI double.

Goldsboro put on the finishing touches in the seventh inning. Shirley began with a lead-off triple and Howell slapped an RBI single. Then the bruisers took over.

Amber Pfenning, Matti Rose Lyon and Allen hit back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles to push the lead to 13-3.

"We need to talk more," said EW head coach Casey Mitchell. "We need to be in the game, and expect the ball that is coming to you. A lot of people were standing around on their heels, and didn't think it was coming to them. We have to come prepared and ready to play."

Each Goldsboro batter tallied at least one hit. The lone senior on the roster -- Lyon -- went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.

Through four games, Lyon is batting .563 with six RBI and four doubles.

"I really love her (batting clean-up)," Lancaster said. "I've got those three sophomores ahead of her, so I've got good speed on. So I know I'm always going to have at least one or two girls on the base pads when she's coming up."

Taylor notched the win from the mound, and struck out nine Warrior batters.

EW was led by Chloe Smith, who smacked three hits, including a double and three RBI. Dejah Thompson went 2-for-4 with two triples.

Monday's win stopped a two-game losing streak for the Cougars. Lancaster said the season-sweep of EW provides his team two good examples of what they are capable of accomplishing as a team.

"I told them they had set a really high bar after the first game against Eastern Wayne," Lancaster said. "And then we followed up with two lackluster performances, especially defensively. I'm very happy for them to understand, this is how you play."