OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team suffered a 4-1 loss before taking game two 2-1 over Trevecca Nazarene in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference doubleheader on Tuesday. With the split, the Panthers stay put in second place in the conference with a record of 12-6 in G-MAC play and 27-17 overall.
Game One: Trevecca Nazarene 4 – Kentucky Wesleyan 1
The Trojans scored one run each in the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Abbey Winstead led off the inning with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Hannah Slack advanced to second on a single from Jaclyn Parker, and reached third on a sacrifice bunt from Meredith Daunhauer.
With two outs and Slack on third, Maddie Dawson hit a single through the right side to bring home Slack and get the Panthers on the board.
Trevecca Nazarene tacked on one more run in the top of the sixth inning to extend its lead to three runs. The Panthers threatened in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on and no outs, but Kentucky Wesleyan couldn't get the job done.
Maci Brown went the distance in her seventh loss of the season. The sophomore struck out two and allowed four runs off of nine hits.
Daunhauer, Dawson and Winstead each finished with two hits a piece while Parker tabbed one.
Game Two: Trevecca Nazarene 1 – Kentucky Wesleyan 2
Kentucky Wesleyan struck first in game two, scoring one run in the bottom of the first. Dawson knocked a double to right field with one out, and was driven home on a two-out single to right center from Winstead.
Lexie Mullen led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run that was barely fair in left field. With the solo shot, Mullen leads the team and conference with seven home runs on the season.
Trevecca cut the Panthers lead to one in the top of the fifth with back-to-back sacrifice bunts. The Trojans had the winning run at the plate with one out in the top of seventh but a sacrifice bunt and a groundout would allow Kentucky Wesleyan to hold on for the one-run win.
In her fifth win of the season, Casey Smith went the distance striking out two and allowing one run off of four hits.
Dawson led the Panthers with two hits in game two while Daunhauer, Winstead, Mullen and Mallory Nease each tabbed one.
The Panthers will be back in action this weekend as they head to first place Cedarville for a pair of doubleheaders set for 2 pm CT on Friday and 11 am CT on Saturday.
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