Softball Rolls Past Reinhardt in AAC Tournament Opener
Kingsport, Tennessee- The Brenau softball team exploded for five runs in the third inning to rout Reinhardt University 8-0 in six innings in the opening round of the 2019 Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament on Wednesday.
Starter Jessica Rathje dominated the Eagles' lineup as the senior pitched a four-hit shutout to help her team win the opening game of the tournament. The Glencoe, Ala. native struck out eight with no walks in a strong performance.
The Brenau scoring started in the first inning as freshman Maygan Loparo singled and then advanced to second on an Autumn Conaway sacrifice bunt. Junior Shelton Kendrix doubled to deep left to score Loparo for a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Faith Grooms singled, then advanced to second on a stolen base. Loparo doubled to shallow center to advance Grooms to third. After Conaway singled to score Loparo, Kendrix walked to load the bases.
With the bases full, freshman Alyssa Maisonet doubled to right-center to score two to increase the Brenau lead to 4-0. Freshman Savannah Dooley then hit a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Chelsea Dale to increase the lead to 5-0. Junior Tabitha Morrison then gave the Golden Tigers a 6-0 lead with a single to right field to score Maisonet.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Tigers added another run as Morrison hit her second single of the day to drive in Maisonet to make the score 6-0.
Brenau finished off the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as Maisonet doubled to left-center to score Claire Fending to close out the game.
Maisonet, a first-team all-conference selection, went 3-4 with three RBIs, while Grooms, Loparo, Conaway and Morrison each added two hits.
Rathje captured her 19th win on the mound, while Reinhardt starter Ansley Byers took the loss.
Brenau (31-10 overall) will take on top-seed Truett-McConnell College (42-7 overall) at 3 pm eastern on Thursday.
Information about the tournament, including the schedule, live streaming and live stats can be found here.