Softball Splits with Union in AAC Competition

Barbourville, Ky.- The Brenau softball team split a pair of games against Union College in Appalachian Athletic Conference play on Saturday.

The host Bulldogs captured game one with a 3-2 victory, while the Golden Tigers secured the second game 9-8 in eight innings.

In game one, Brenau scored in the first inning as Sheldon Kendrix hit a sacrifice fly off of Union starter Madison Williams to score Faith Grooms for a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the fourth as Lauren Talton hit a solo shot to even the score. Later in the inning, Juli King singled to left to score Josi McKibben to take a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Brenau tied the game 2-2 as Alyssa Maisonet doubled home Autumn Conaway, but was unable to take the lead. In the bottom of the inning, Lily Ayers laid down a bunt single to score Makala Gore to score the go-ahead run 3-2 and escape with the win.

Conaway led the Golden Tigers offense with three hits, while Claire Fendig added two hits. Brenau starter Jessica Rathje pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs in the loss.

In game two, both teams scored two runs in the first inning, and then the Bulldogs exploded for three runs in the second inning to take a 5-2 lead.

The Golden Tigers answered in the top of the fifth as Conaway singled home Karly Smith to start the rally. The Bulldogs' Lily Ayers misplayed a Maisonet grounder to score both Maygan Loparo and Conaway to make the score 5-4. Loparo then scored on a wild pitch to even the score 5-5. Madison Oliver then singled home Chelsea Dale to give the Golden Tigers a 6-5 lead.

The lead was short lived, however, as Union scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-6 advantage.

In the top of the sixth inning, Brenau answered as Loparo singled home Smith to make the score 8-7. Loparo advanced to third on a Union error, then scored on a wild pitch to even the score 8-8.

In extra innings, Grooms doubled to center to start the inning, and then Loparo notched her fourth hit of the game to score Grooms to take the game 9-8.

Loparo went a perfect 4-4 with four RBIs, while Oliver and Maisonet each added an RBI. Rathje earned the win for the Golden Tigers, pitching four innings in relief.

Brenau (25-7 overall, 14-6 AAC) next travels to Reinhardt University (22-13 overall, 13-5 AAC) on Tuesday for a 3 pm doubleheader.