No. 18 Gaston College bounces back with impressive Region 10 DH sweep

One day after losing a 21-game winning streak, No. 18 Gaston College's softball team bounced with a pair of convincing, 5-inning home victories over USC Salkehatchie at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

The Rhinos improved to 39-4 overall and 9-1 in Region 10 with 10-1 and 21-1 victories over the visiting Indians.

"Coming of the loss and changing some things in the lineup, we played really well and it was a good day," Gaston College coach Michael Steuerwald said. "We were ready to get back on the winning track and take care of some things."

Gaston College's offense erupted for 27 hits in the sweep and tallied runs in eight of the nine innings in which they batted on Sunday.

Katelyn Brandon (6 hits, 2 doubles, triple, home run, 5 RBIs), Mary Hinson (5 hits, 1 RBI), Savanna Mullins (3 hits, double, home run, 7 RBIs), Alexa Bianchi-Rossi (3 hits, double, 1 RBI), Alizae Blas (3 hits, 2 RBIs), Arissa Duff (2 hits, home run, 4 RBIs) and Miranda Wall (walk-off 2-run home run in opener) led the offense. Wall's home run was the first of her college career.

On the mound, Mullins fired her fifth complete game of the season - a four-hitter with one strikeout - in the opener and starter and winner Tea Cornett (3 innings, 2 strikeouts) and reliever Laila Woolfolk (2 innings, 4 strikeouts) twirled in the nightcap.

The Rhinos play again at 1 p.m. Wednesday against non-league rival Catawba Valley Community College before returning to conference action with Friday's noon doubleheader against USC Union. Both doubleheaders are at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

"We're going to have an opportunity Wednesday to continue to get back on track and then we're going to have a big doubleheader on Friday," Steuerwald said.