WEST POINT — The Point University softball team (16-14, 9-7) defeated Clark Atlanta University (8-14, 5-4)  8-0 and 11-1 in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.

“It was great,” Point University assistant softball coach Sarah Warren said. “We worked hard at the plate, we had to focus on line drive hits. We produced runs when we had to. Defensively, all three pitchers appeared in the two games and only gave up one hit apiece, so we only totaled three hits today.”

Point senior right-hander Ryan Simpson pitched a complete game through six innings in the first match of the day for the Skyhawks. Simpson struck out eight of the 18 batters that she faced on the mound in the victory.

“My screwball was working,” Simpson said. “I’ve been having trouble with that. It was working today. Especially with my girls hitting behind me, having me and [Point junior right-hander] Allie [Beilstein]’s back, it was great. I got the confidence because they were hitting so well to the point of where if I messed up, I would be okay. I wasn’t stressed, I wasn’t tight and that was a big part of me throwing the ball well today.”

Clark Atlanta held the Skyhawks scoreless for the first two innings until an error in right field opened the floodgates for Point. The first error, which was a missed pop fly out by Clark Atlanta’s right fielder, scored the Skyhawks’ first run of the day. The second error was a missed ground ball by Clark Atlanta ’s third basemen, which scored Point’s second run of the inning. Point senior Lacy Striblin later dropped an RBI single into left-center field to give the Skyhawks a 3-0 lead.

“Mainly on offense, we’re waiting on those key hits with runners in scoring position,” Warren said of the Skyhawks this season. “Besides that, all three pitchers are lights out right now. The defense didn’t have to do too much, but when they had the opportunity, they were making plays.”

After Point junior Shatima Smith scored the eighth run of the first game in the bottom of the sixth inning on a wild throw from Clark Atlanta, the game was stopped.

The difference in Game Two for the Skyhawks was that it didn’t take long to open up the scoring. Leadoff hitter and junior Michelle Donner scored off of an RBI single from junior Ansley Brown. Brown eventually scored the second run of the inning courtesy of a bunt from junior Angela Heimback. 

Clark Atlanta scored its lone run of the day when sophomore pinch runner Kehaulani Low on a grounded out for the Panthers.

Beilstein was on the hill for four innings for Point in the second game, with right-handed junior Kelsey Davis coming in for relief in the win.

The Skyhawks now head on the road to Tennessee a pair of doubleheaders this weekend against Bryan College and No. 23 Tennessee Wesleyan.

“Even the top teams in the conference right now aren’t blowing other teams out,” Warren said. “They aren’t run-ruling people. They are really just getting the one key hit, and getting the one little bloop hit that wins the ball game. I think defensively if we can take away those last couple of outs on the mound, we’re holding this tight. I think if out three-four hole and our seven-eight hole are on base, then we’re good to go.”