No. 13 Gaston College sets two school records, ties another in Region 10 DH sweep

Gaston College's softball team tied one school record and set two others on Saturday in a 5-4, 6-0 doubleheader sweep at USC Union in Region 10 Division I action.

The Rhinos, ranked No. 13 in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll, improved to 49-3 overall to tie the school record for wins in a season that was previously set by the 2024 team when it finished 49-9 overall.

The sweep also extended the winning streak to a school record 16 games while improving Gaston College to 16-0 in league play for a school record for conference victories.

"It was good to be pushed and still come out on top," Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald said. "We haven't played 14 innings in a day in a long time. It's good to get a challenge as we prepare for postseason."

Sophomore pitcher Kristyn Ezzo shined in the circle as she recorded a strikeout with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning for a save in the opener and threw a three-hit shutout in the nightcap. Ezzo is now 17-0 with four saves this season.

"She threw extremely well and made big pitches for us in both games," said Steuerwald, whose team's previous 14 league games had lasted just five innings 13 times and six innings once.

Offensively, Kendall Bradshaw (4 hits, triple, 2 RBIs), Alayna Patrick (3 hits, double, triple, home run, 3 RBIs), Katelyn Brandon (3 hits, 2 RBIs) and Sarah Johnson (2 hits, 3 RBIs) were the Saturday's leaders.

Gaston College had four remaining Region 10 Division I doubleheaders to close out the regular season - Tuesday at USC Sumter at 1 p.m., Wednesday at USC Salkehatchie at 1 p.m., Thursday at USC Salkehatchie at noon and a doubleheader at Florence Darlington Tech that has no official date.