Parrott sparks Gaston College to doubleheader split on Sunday afternoon

Gaston College split a doubleheader on Sunday against Monroe College, N.Y., as freshman pitcher-outfielder Brantleigh Parrott again shined at the plate and on the pitcher's mound.

After losing 7-4 in the opener as Monroe rallied from a 4-0 deficit at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park, Parrott fired a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and had two hits and three RBIs as the Rhinos won 8-0 by the mercy rule in six innings.

"She really has stepped up for us," Steuerwald said of Parrott, a freshman from Central Cabarrus High School. "She came up big for us in that second game when we needed to respond after losing a game we probably shouldn't have lost."

Monroe scored five times in the third inning of the opener after Gaston College had taken a 4-0 lead after two innings. The visiting Mustangs added one run in both the fourth and sixth innings to account for the final margin.

"We just didn't play the way we're capable of playing in the first game," Steuerwald said.

Parrott took charge in the nightcap from the outset by striking out the side in the top of the first inning.

She then hit a two-run double in a three-run bottom of the first that also included Logan Lilly's RBI single.

Parrott would retire the first nine batters in order and never allowed a Mustangs' runner past second base to finish up a with a complete game victory that improved her seasonal record to 6-0 on the season.

"I like relieving more," said Parrott, who has made two starts in nine appearances this season. "But starting on the mound is fun, too.
"I have a great defense behind me and having a good team and confidence in myself has helped all season long."

A .551 hitter this season with 19 RBIs, Parrott had three hits on Sunday. Gabrielle Porterfield also had three hits on Sunday, capped by a game-ending two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning. Asheton Queen, Serena Yalich and Logan Lilly added two hits each on Sunday.

Gaston College improved to 13-3 on the season as it prepares to open Region 10 league play later this week.

"These non-conference games have really helped us get ready for region play," said Steuerwald, whose team hosts non-conference Caldwell Tech on Tuesday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at CaroMont Health Park before beginning Region 10 action at USC Sumter on Friday and at USC Union next Sunday.