Gaston College softball sets history on Monday with doubleheader split

A new era in Gaston College athletics history launched on Feb. 19 when the school's first softball team opened the 2022 season at Martha Rivers Park in Gastonia.

More history was set Monday when the Rhinos picked up their inaugural win. And the way they did so could not have been more dramatic.

Trailing 7-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning against the touring Monroe College-Bronx Varsity Express, the Rhinos scored six runs with two out for an 8-7 win in the opener of the doubleheader.

Raynee Redington's two-out, two-run double climaxed the improbable comeback.

Down 0-2 in the count, the left-handed hitting Redington sent a pitch to deep right field, scoring Kaylah Hannibal with the tying run and driving in McKenzie Plaskin with the game winner.

"It was a beautiful pitch to hit, and I got real lucky on it," said Redington, who also went the distance in the circle to get the pitching win. "I was in tears the whole time, I was so happy."

After failing to cash in on earlier opportunities, the Rhinos (1-11) capitalized on two Monroe errors to keep the rally going. An infield error brought the home team within 7-5, and a bases-loaded hit batter forced in a run to make it 7-6. Redington did the rest with a good piece of hitting on an inside pitch, lofting it over the head of the pursuing Monroe right fielder.

On a windy day with gusts affecting the flow of the game at times, Redington also delivered as a pitcher. She went the full seven innings, allowing seven runs on six hits and striking out nine.

"I'm glad my girls had my back while I was pitching," Redington said. "I needed people to help motivate me to throw strikes, and they were there."

The Rhinos collected 10 hits for the game, with Redington going 3-for-5 to lead the offense. McKenzie Gates chipped in two hits in three at-bats and drove in two runs.

The visiting Express came back to earn a split of the doubleheader, winning game two 9-0 in six innings.

The Rhinos had a chance to break on top early, but they left the bases loaded as Monroe pitcher Toni Shawnee pitched out of difficulty by retiring the side on back-to-back strikeouts. Shawnee went the distance in the circle, scattering six hits while striking out 13 batters.

The Express scored in each of the last four innings to break the game open. Zahra Medina went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Cinthia Ramirez homered to highlight a three-run fifth inning for the Express.

Matthews was the only Gaston College player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3. Only four of the nine Monroe runs were earned, and the Rhinos gave up two runs in the fourth after starting pitcher Serena Yalich retired the first two batters on strikeouts.

"I am proud of the group," Gaston College coach Mike Steurewald said. "We had a lot of opportunities in both games. In the seventh (game one), we were able to execute the game plan we had at the plate and at the same time find a way to get on base however we could."

In game two, Rhinos' first baseman Plaskin exited early with an ankle injury, a setback that could test the team's limited depth.

"From the work ethic standpoint, the players got a little reward today for their efforts," said Steuerwald, whose team returns to action on Saturday for a noon doubleheader against Southwest Virginia Community College at Gastonia's Martha Rivers Park. "Winning becomes addictive, and you just want to do that again."