VIENNA, W. Va. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team was victorious in extra innings, edging Ohio Valley 2-1 in game one before suffering a 2-1 walk-off loss in game two. With the split, the Panthers move to 18-10 overall and 3-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Game One: Kentucky Wesleyan 2 – Ohio Valley 1 (8 innings)
The Fighting Scots took a 1-0 lead after the first inning, and a tight defensive battle held that score until the sixth inning.
With two outs and one runner in scoring position, Jaclyn Parker knocked a single to left field to bring home Hannah Slack. Slack was pinch running for Mallory Nease who led the inning off with a double to left.
Maci Brown dominated in the final two innings, forcing Ohio Valley to go three up and three down in both the sixth and seventh to force extra innings.
Facing two outs and the bases loaded, Jaclyn Parker ripped a single to left field, scoring Courtney Lockwood and putting the Panthers ahead by one. Brown dug in the bottom of the inning, facing just three batters again to lead the Panthers to victory.
Brown earned her eighth win of the season, pitching all 8.0 innings, striking out seven, allowing one run off of six hits. The sophomore didn't allow any walks. Five Panthers tabbed multiple hits with Jamie Tempel, Maddie Dawson, Lockwood, Nease and Parker all batting two-for-four.
Game Two: Kentucky Wesleyan 1 – Ohio Valley 2
Another defensive showcase saw another one-run game in game two. Ohio Valley got on the board first with one run in the bottom of the first.
The Panthers rallied with two outs in the top of the fifth. Dawson got on base with a single and scored on a base hit from Jaylin Tidwell, tying the game at one.
With the game tied, Kentucky Wesleyan was unable to get anything started, tabbing one hit in the final two innings. Ohio Valley recorded two hits in the bottom of the frame to take game two.
Autumn Grady suffered her second loss of the season, pitching 6.0 innings and striking out four. The three-time G-MAC Pitcher of the Week struck out four and allowed two runs off of ten hits. Dawson finished game two three-for-four at the plate while Lockwood and Lexi Mullen each went two for three.
The Panthers will be back in action on Sunday with a doubleheader at Salem International beginning at 10 am CT.
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