Burcham Ties Strikeout Mark in Quakers' Split
RALEIGH, N.C. (2/22/09) - Guilford College's Jessica Burcham struck out a school-record 13 batters and Julie Langseth hit a two-run homer in the sixth to help the Quakers score a 4-3 win at Peace College and gain a split of Sunday's nonleague double-header. The Pacers (1-1) used a four-run fourth inning to take a 5-3 opening-game win.
Burcham's gem and Langseth's hit helped Guilford (2-4) snap a four-game losing streak. Burcham's 13 strikeouts matches the Quakers' record of 13 set by DeNina Eldridge in 2007 and 2008. She struck out the side in the first two innings and had 10 strikeouts through four innings.
Despite the strong pitching Guilford trailed, 2-0, until the Quakers tied the game with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Langseth's two-out homer came one batter after Shelby Bowser reached base on an error.
The Pacers Courtney Long hit a two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to pull Peace within 4-3, but Burcham retired Candice McDaniel on strikes for the third straight time to end the game.
Peace's Ashley Stansbury worked around 10 hits and tossed a complete game in the Pacers' opening game win. She helped her own cause with a two-out, two-run double in Peace's four-run fourth that erased an early 2-1 deficit. Pinch-hitter Melissa Williams delivered the game-winning hit earlier in the inning with a two-run single. Peace only had five hits to Guilford's 10, but took advantage of five walks issued by Guilford pitchers.
Kimberly Keys , Kelly Hale and Ami Hutcherson all had two hits in the loss. Hale also had an RBI and moved within two RBI of Guilford's career record.
The Quakers are back in action Saturday (2/28) against visiting Averett University in Guilford's home openers.