First Game Win Helps Softball Split Against Brenau

GAINESVILLE, Ga.- The softball team went back on the road on Thursday to play an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader. The team won the first game against the Breanu University Golden Tigers 7-2 but fell in the second game 11-3 in five innings.

Game One:

Back-to-back doubles in the first inning helped the Lady Bulldogs take the lead. Macy Chastain opened the game with a single and stole second to move into scoring position. After moving to third on a Taylor Penning ground out, Chastain scored on Bailee Phillips double to give the team an 1-0 lead. Mackenzie Baldwin took Phillips' spot on second base with her double, giving the team a 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning. 

In the second inning, Phillips and Baldwin recorded RBIs again. This time, the bases were loaded with Brooke Freeman, Carylnn Atamaniuk, and Chastain. A hit by Phillips resulted in a single and two runs as Freeman and Atmaniuk both scored. Chastain, who ended up on third after the hit, scored on Baldwin's single, moving the score to 5-0. 

The seventh inning saw the team add two more runs to their score. Phillips was one of the runs in the form of a solo home run. Avery Hope was the other run, hitting a double to get on base and scoring on Tatum Massengale's single, helping the team take the first game by five runs.

Phillips led the team with five RBIs while Baldwin had two and Massengale had one. Phillips also had the win in the circle, striking out three batters.

Game Two:

The second game got off to a rough start for TWU as Brenau scored four runs in the first inning. The team got on the scoreboard in the second inning though.

Massengale and Bradley hit back-to-back singles. A ground out by Courtney Wilson moved each runner a base, and Massengale scored on Atamaniuk's at-bat, making the score 4-1.

The third inning saw the Lady Bulldogs cut into the deficit more. Phillips hit her second homer of the day, making the score 5-3. Three straight singles by Baldwin, Hope, and Massengale cut the Brenau down to two runs as Baldwin scored on the latter. Unfortunately, the opponents scored four runs in the bottom of the third and two in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early.

Phillips, Atamaniuk, and Massengale all had RBIs in the game.

Tennessee Wesleyan (9-6, 7-5 AAC) will be back on their home field on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Reinhardt University beginning at 4:00 p.m.