Softball Wins Second Consecutive AAC Doubleheader

GRAYSON, Ky.- The softball went back on the road on Saturday. The team traveled to the field of the Kentucky Christian University Lady Knights for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader.

Game One:

Tennessee Wesleyan took the first lead of the game on a Emily Higgins single. The run was scored by Macy Chastain, who opened the game with a walk and a stolen base to get into scoring position as Higgins hit the single. Higgins was responsible for another run, this time a solo home run in the top of the third to make the score 2-0. Kentucky Christian scored a run in the bottom of the third to cut the lead down to one. TWU gained the run back in the fourth inning.

Chastain and Courtney Sneed hit back-to-back singles to load first and second base. Taylor Penning made it three singles in a row, scoring Chastain in the process to move the score to 3-1. In the sixth inning, the score became tied 3-3. The winning run was not scored until the first extra inning. 

In the eighth inning, Tatum Massengale got on base with a walk. Pinch-runner Ali Richards moved to second on a Caroline Moore sacrifice bunt and scored on Chastain's double to break the tie. An error moved Chastain a base and a sacrifice fly by Sneed allowed Chastain to move forward to home plate as the Lady Bulldogs won the game 5-3. 

Isabella Jenkins struck out three batters in the pitching win while Bailee Phillips picked up a save. 

Game Two:

TWU took the first lead of the game in the third inning. With the bases loaded by Chastain, Penning, and Higgins, Avery Hope hit a ball that resulted in a triple, leaving her on third as the other base runners scored to make the score 3-0. In the bottom of the third though, Kentucky Christian scored two runs. 

The opponents did not score another run in the game while the Lady Bulldogs scored again in the sixth inning. Massengale hit a single to open the inning and moved to third on a Phillips double. Massengale sprinted home on Courtney Wilson's sacrifice fly, making the final score 4-2 as Tennessee Wesleyan swept the doubleheader. 

Hope led the offense with three RBIs. Phillips had eight strikeouts in four innings of pitching.

Up next for the Lady Bulldogs (15-7, 12-3 AAC) is a road doubleheader against Reinhardt University on Wednesday. The doubleheader against the conference foe is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.