The Montreat College softball team finished its regular season in style on Wednesday, April 21 with back-to-back shutouts as junior pitchers Rachel Stowe and Nicole Denney helped the Cavaliers defeat Bluefield College 1-0 and 5-0 in a road doubleheader in Bluefield, Virginia.

The victories allowed Montreat to complete its regular season with a winning record at 22-21 and placed the Cavs in a tie for second place with Milligan College at 10-6 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference as the teams head for tournament play starting on Tuesday, April 27 in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Head Coach Lee Swanson appreciated the sweep of the Rams, but as Bluefield finished 0-16 in the AAC, he didn't see it as a guarantor of tournament success.  "We did just enough to win the first game; we have to play a more complete game if we plan on making an impact in the AAC tournament."

Stowe's brilliant game covered for an unusually ineffective Cavaliers offense as she allowed only one hit and struck out seven in earning the win.  Olivia Huffman collected two hits and Nicole Denney, pinch-running for Huffman, scored the game's only run as Montreat reached the .500 mark for the tenth time this season. 

Game two witnessed another sparkling performance inside the circle as Denney allowed four hits and struck out eight as the Cavaliers recorded their fifth shutout of the season.  Junior centerfielder Jamie Lokken cracked a two-run home run in the sixth to provide a comfortable lead that was never threatened as Denney dominated the punchless Rams.

Montreat begins play in the AAC tournament on April 27 against a Union College squad that completed its season at 8-8 in the conference and 16-16 overall.  On April 18, the Cavaliers and Bulldogs split their only two games of the season.