No. 10 Gaston College softball sweeps delayed season-opener

Gaston College opened its 2026 softball season with a doubleheader sweep of Bryant & Stratton, Va., at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Care Park on Friday afternoon.

The Rhinos won 9-1 and 13-3 over the visitors in a pair of games shortened to five innings by the run rule.

"In both games, we fell behind in the top of the first inning but we found ways to respond," said Gaston College coach Michael Steuerwald, whose team is ranked No. 10 in the National Junior College Athletic Association preseason poll. "A lot of people up and down the lineup contributed to our wins today."

Gaston College scored at least one run in all nine innings in which it batted.

Alexa Bianchi-Rossi (3 hits, double, triple, 1 RBI), Adah Bruining (3 hits, double, home run, 2 RBIs), Mary Hinson (2 hits, double, 1 RBI), McKenna Jones (2 doubles, 2 RBIs), Sophia Barone (2 hits, double, 3 RBIs), Mallie Courson (2 hits, double) and Savanna Mullins (2 hits, 1 RBI) led an offense that accumulated 19 hits on Friday afternoon.

In the circle, freshman Aidan Ledbetter (2-hitter with 7 strikeouts) and Mullins (4 innings, 3 runs, 2 strikeouts) picked up the victories.

"Aidan Ledbetter had some nerves early on but she bounced back and had a good outing," Steuerwald said. "And Savanna Mullins was a little shaky but also finished up strong."

Steuerwald's has already lost six games due to the wintry weather that has blanketed the region and Friday's openers were seven days later that originally scheduled.

"It's not ideal to be outside right now but the ladies have found a way to get their work in and get better," Steuerwald said. "Having the mindset of showing up to work every day when we've lost so many games shows a maturity in this team."

The Rhinos are slated to host Catawba Valley Community College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday at CaroMont Health Park in their next games.