Softball Sweeps CIU for First AAC Wins

ATHENS, Tenn.- The softball team played their first home games of the season on Saturday. The games were also the team's first Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contests as they hosted the Columbia International University Lady Rams in a doubleheader.

Game One:

The first game was scoreless through three full innings. TWU broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Standing on second after a walk and stolen base, Macy Chastain scored on a Taylor Penning single to give the team a 1-0 lead. Penning, who moved to second on the throw to home plate on the previous play, scored on a Courtney Sneed single, moving the team's lead to 2-0 at the end of the inning.

The team added another insurance run in the sixth inning. Chastain opened the inning with a single to center field, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bailee Phillips. Sneed recorded her second RBI of the game when Chastain scored on the single she hit to center field, giving the team the 3-0 score they went on to win by.

Madison Stott pitched six innings in picking up the win, striking out three batters in her time in the circle. Isabella Jenkins completed a save after pitching the final inning.

Game Two:

Game two played out much like the first game of the doubleheader, except the game was scoreless through four innings, and all the runs were scored in one inning. 

Similar to the first game, Penning was responsible for getting the Lady Buldogs on the board, this time bringing in two runs. Standing in for Kaley Bradley as a pinch-runner, Italia Kyle moved to second on a Caroline Moore single. The bases became loaded as Chastain earned a walk. Penning hit a double to right field to bring Kyle and Moore across home plate, giving the team a 2-0 lead. Sneed came to the plate and made the score 3-0 when Chastain scored off her single to center field. Like Stott in the first game, Phillips did not allow a run as team won the game 3-0 to sweep the doubleheader.

Phillips pitched the complete game, striking out 10 batters in the process. 

Tennessee Wesleyan (3-2, 2-0 AAC) will return to action on Sunday when they host Columbia College in an AAC doubleheader. The first pitch at Athens Regional Park is set for 2:00 p.m.