No. 13 Gaston College softball sets scoreless innings record during Thursday's DH sweep

Gaston College's No. 13-ranked softball team set a school record during a doubleheader sweep at Surry Community College on Thursday afternoon.

The Rhinos (41-3) extended their scoreless innings streak to 40 during 14-0 and 11-1 victories over the Knights at Fisher Park.

Gaston College had last yielded a run in the sixth inning of a 7-6 loss at Louisburg on March 13.

"We did lots of good things," said Rhinos coach Mike Steuerwald, whose team was playing its final non-conference game of the season. "It was good to get the two wins. Now we've got the opportunity to turn our focus on conference play the rest of the way."

The previous school record for pitching excellence was of 31 1/3 innings during Gaston College's postseason run to the 2023 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.

Kristyn Ezzo, Savanna Mullins, Abigail Brewton and Phoebe Cole threw scoreless innings during the 40-inning streak.

Brewton, Cole and Ezzo combined for a four-hitter in the 14-0 opening game victory that was shortened to six innings by the "mercy" rule. And Mullins went 4 1/3 innings - yielding a run in the third inning - before Courtney Grimmer helped to close out the combined five-hitter in a five-inning "mercy" rule win in the nightcap.

Sarah Johnson (5 hits, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs), Alayna Patrick (4 hits, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs), Mary Hinson (4 hits, double, 1 RBI), Mullins (3 hits, double, 2 RBIs), Kendall Bradshaw (3 hits, double, 1 RBI), Savanna Price (2 hits, home run, 3 RBIs) and McKenna Jones (2 hits, double) led the Rhinos' 27-hit offense on Thursday.

Gaston College returns to action for a 1 p.m. Sunday doubleheader against Florence Darlington Tech at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park. The contests will be preceded by 12:30 p.m. "Sophomore Day" ceremonies.