FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College's softball team split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader against Lees-McRae College today Vickie Van Kleeck Field, falling 13-3 in the opener before rallying for a 7-5 win in game two. Hannah Hooper had a pair of home runs in the nightcap, including a walkoff two-run shot to salvage the split.

RECORDS
Ferrum 10-28, 3-19 CC
Lees-McRae 9-22, 3-14 CC

GAME ONE
Lees-McRae struck early, taking advantage of a first-inning error to score the game's opening run before adding another in the second. The Bobcats broke the game open in the third inning with a three-run double, extending their lead to 5-0.

Ferrum responded in the bottom of the third with an RBI single to get on the board and later added two runs in the fifth, highlighted by a clutch two-run double to cut the deficit to 6-3. After adding a run in the sixth, the Bobcats erupted for six runs in the seventh inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues and timely extra-base hits to take the opener.

KEY STATS
Lees-McRae: Haylea Huffines 4-5, 2B, 4 RBI; Maycee Tickle 3-5, 3 R; Taylor Beurrier 2-5, 2 R, 2B; Brooks Eaddy 2-5, 2 RBI, 2B; 
Ferrum:Mirenda Shields 2-2, RBI; Payton Evans 1-2, 2B, R; Emily Wood (L) 5.0 IP, 6 ER

GAME TWO
Ferrum came out strong in game two, opening with Hooper's two-run homer down the right field line in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Lees-McRae answered in the fourth inning, capitalizing on hits and a couple errors to score five runs and take a 5-2 advantage. Ferrum chipped away with a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-3, but was held in check through the next two innings.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Panthers mounted a dramatic comeback. Erick Treusch and Carson Hogston both reached base on errors, then Emily Hopper delivered a game-tying two-RBI double down the right field line to knot the score at 5-5. Hooper then stepped up to the plate and sent a ball deep over the right field fence for the walkoff homer to give Ferrum the 7-5 comeback win.

KEY STATS
Ferrum: Hannah Hooper 2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R; Samantha Smith 2-3, 2B, R; Wynema Thomas (W, 1-1) 3.0 IP, 0 R
Lees-McRae: Haylea Huffines 2-3, 2 RBI; Emma Bigby (L, 4-5) 2.1 IP, 4 R (0 ER)

UP NEXT
Ferrum returns to the skinned infield Friday, April 10, at Southern Wesleyan University. The Conference Carolinas doubleheader is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start in Central, South Carolina.