No. 23 Gaston College splits DH with perennial D2 power Louisburg

Gaston College's No. 23-ranked National Junior College Athletic Association Division I softball team locked horns with one of the country's perennial powers in No. 5-ranked Division II Louisburg on Sunday afternoon - and the Rhinos split a doubleheader with an 8-3 win and 10-7 loss at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

The 8-3 victory in the opener extended Gaston College's winning streak to 13 games to open the season and tie for second-longest in program history.

The loss dropped the Rhinos to 13-1 and concluded a stretch of 10 games out of 14 against ranked opposition.

"They're a great ball club and they swing it well so they're really tough to matchup with," Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald said. "I felt like if we could've taken the lead in the second game, we'd be in good shape.
"We've just got to be better on some of the details when we play against good ballclubs."

After Kristyn Ezzo's five-hitter with eight strikeouts and Alayna Patrick's three-run triple in a six-run third inning sparked the Rhinos to the opening game victory, Gaston College fell behind 5-0 after 1 1/2 innings and could never take the lead.

"So we have to find a way to be better at the small details in those moments," Steuerwald said. "We did a lot of things well today but not enough to beat a very good ballclub in the second game.
"For us, we've got to continue to learn and grow from it and get better for the next moment."

Kendall Bradshaw (3 hits, home run, 3 RBIs), Sarah Johnson (2 hits, 2 RBIs), Mary Hinson (2 hits, 1 RBI), Alayna Patrick (3-run triple), Skye Harrington (solo home run) and Kately Brandon (solo home run) led the Rhinos' offense with Bradshaw picking up her 100th career hit during the doubleheader.

Bradshaw had 102 career in her two-year career so far and trails only 2023-24 standout Gabrielle Porterfield's school-record 130. Other current Rhinos closing in 100 career hits are Grace Kealy (89), Patrick (86) and Harrington (71).

Gaston College now heads out on the road for games next Friday and Saturday at Gordon State and Lake Sumter State and four games on Feb. 21 and 22 in Oxford, Ala., against Northeast Alabama, Blinn, Marion Military and Northwest Shoals. The Rhinos return home next on Feb. 25 for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Walters State.

"It's going to be a tough stretch but a good opportunity," Steuerwald said. "From our end, we have to find out how tough can we can be on the road."