Gaston College softball records high-scoring DH sweep over nationally-ranked team

Gaston College's softball team was impressive on Monday as it recorded a doubleheader sweep at nationally-ranked Surry Community College by 7-0 and 18-2 scores.

The sweep improves the Rhinos' overall record to 43-7.

"We hit the ball really well up and down the lineup," said Gaston College head Mike Steuerwald, whose team received votes in Monday's National Junior College Athletic Association poll for the eighth time in the last nine weeks. "And Abby G pitched really well in the opener and we got some time for Brew and Ghorley in the circle in the second game."

Alayna Patrick (5 hits, triple, 3 RBIs), Skye Harrington (5 hits, 2 home runs, 6 RBIs), Emma Ghorley (4 hits, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs), Harrington (4 hits, 2 home runs, RBIs), Grace Kealy (4 hits, double, 3 RBIs), Kendall Bradshaw (3 hits, 1 RBI), Grace Manning (3 hits, double, 2 RBIs), Gabrielle Porterfield (2 hits, 1 RBI), Logan Lilly (2 hits, double, 1 RBI) and Dakota Marshall (2 hits, triple, 2 RBIs) led an offense that had 12 hits in the opener and 19 in the nightcap against the Knights, who are ranked No. 5 in the NJCAA Division III poll.

The Rhinos visit another nationally-ranked team, No. 3 Division III Caldwell Tech, on Wednesday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader before closing their Region 10 Division I regular season slate at USC Sumter for a 1 p.m. Saturday doubleheader.

In the circle, Abigail Gawlinski fired a 3-hitter with 5 strikeouts in the opener and Abigail Brewton threw three shutout innings before Ghorley pitched the final two innings of the 4-hitter in the nightcap.

The Rhinos remain on the road at No. 3 Division II Caldwell Tech on Wednesday at 3 p.m. before closing out their Region 10 Division I regular season slate in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at USC Sumter on Saturday.