FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College picked up a pair of non-conference softball wins over Wilkes University this afternoon at American National Bank Field. The Panthers won the first game 9-1 in six innings, then took the nightcap 4-2 in the first-ever meetings between the two schools.

RECORDS
Ferrum (8-0)
Wilkes (0-2)

THE BASICS
Ferrum led 2-1 headed into the bottom of the sixth inning, where they scored seven runs to end the game with the run rule. The Panthers got the runs off an RBI double from Bayley Cunningham, RBI singles by Carly Nelson and Arielle Eure, Tori Scott was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score a run, Allison McGehee's RBI fielder's choice and Cunningham's sac fly to right field.

Ashton Lambeth ran her record to 4-0 with a complete game effort, pitching six innings with four hits, one earned run and a strikeout. Scott and Cunningham both had two base hits.

In the nightcap, Ferrum got all the runs it would need in the bottom of the first inning on RBI singles by Cunningham and Scott, and an RBI groundout by McGehee. Scott doubled in the fifth inning to drive in an insurance run.

Lyndsey Sears pitched a complete seven-inning game with five hits, two earned runs and seven strikeouts. Sears now has 26 strikeouts in five appearances this seaso. 

Keri Hamlett had a pair of stolen bases this afternoon, one in each game, to run her season total to 11 and her career mark to 46. She is now four shy of Ferrum's career record of 50 stolen bases.

KEY STATS - Game 1
Ferrum: SP Lambeth (W, 4-0) 6 inn, 4 hits, 1 ER, 1 K; Cunningham 2-3, double, run, 2 RBI; Scott 2-3, 3 runs, HBP
Wilkes: SP Rachel Pritchard (L, 0-1) 5 inn, 7 hits, 5 ER, 3 K

KEY STATS - Game 2
Ferrum: SP Sears (W, 4-0) 7 inn, 5 hits, 2 ER, 7 K, Cunningham 2-4, double, run, RBI
Wilkes: SP Celine Podlesney (L, 0-1) 5 inn, 7 hits, 4 ER, 4 K; Jordyn Kondras 2-4, run

BEHIND THE WHISTLE
"Two big wins today against a very good Wilkes University team. Even though we are off to a good start, we still have things to work on to get better." --Head Coach Gerald Culler

NEXT GAME
Culler's team will be back in action next week during Ferrum's Spring Break at the Fastpitch Games Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Panthers open with Rivier (N.H.) University Friday, March 6, at 1:30 p.m.