Gaston College splits pair of games in tournament at Myrtle Beach

Gaston College's softball team split its two games on Tuesday in the Fastpitch Dreams Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

In the opener, freshman Tessa Hunt threw a five-hit shutout with three strikeouts in a 6-0 victory over Bay College, Mich., then Lincoln Trail College, Ill., pitcher Addie Brasier threw a no-hitter as the Rhinos lost 8-0 in five innings in their second game.

Hunt's performance was the best of her career while improving the former North Lincoln High standout to 6-2 on the season with her fourth complete game and first shutout.

"She threw really well," Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald said of Hunt. "She kept the ball down the zone and the defense made a lot of plays behind her."

The Rhinos generated two runs in the first and fifth innings and one run in the third and sixth innings.

Brantleigh Parrott's sacrifice fly drove in the first run and Grace Manning made it 2-0 with a 2-out RBI single.

Parrott later drove in two more runs and Serena Yalich had a RBI triple and Asheton Queen a RBI single.

"We found ways to manufacture some runs," Steuerwald said. "We just kept chipping away and did enough to be on the right side of the scoreboard."

Yalich and Queen finished with two hits apiece to lead Gaston College's 8-hit offense.

In the nightcap, Brasier needed 62 pitches to fire a 5-inning no-hitter in which she yielded only walks to Gabrielle Porterfield and Grace Manning.

"We didn't really square a lot of balls up on her today," Steuerwald said. "(Parrott) drove one to the fence in the first inning. And we hit a couple of hard line drives at their shortstop and she made some plays on them. Outside of that, we didn't do much."

Gaston College plays two more games at the Fastpitch Dreams Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Wednesday as the Rhinos meet Delta College at 11 a.m. and Southeastern Illinois College at 5 p.m.