CEDARVILLE, Ohio – A three-run rally in the seventh came up short in game one for the Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team but the Panthers took game two of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference doubleheader against Cedarville. With the split, the Panthers move to 29-19 overall and 14-8 in conference play.
Game One: Kentucky Wesleyan 11 – Cedarville 12
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Daunhauer led off with a bunt single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Lexie Mullen. Cedarville knotted the game in the bottom of the third, scoring one run off of three singles.
Kentucky Wesleyan's offense exploded for five hits in the top of the fourth to plate three runs. Jaclyn Parker rippled a triple to right field and scored on a single up the middle from Maddie Dawson. Courtney Lockwood drove in Jaylin Tidwell and Dawson with a double to left field, allowing the Panthers to take a 4-1 lead.
That lead was quickly taken away in the bottom of the inning as the Yellow Jackets scored five runs to take a 6-4 lead.
The Panthers took the lead again in the top of the fifth, plating four runs off of three hits. Daunhauer knocked a single up the middle to drive two, and Tidwell drove in two more with a double to right field, giving Kentucky Wesleyan a 8-6 lead.
Cedarville scored one run in the bottom of the fifth and five more in the sixth to jump out to a four-run lead.
Parker led off the top of the seventh by drawing a walk, and reached second on a bunt single from Daunhauer. Tidwell smashed her third home run of the season, a no-doubter to left center to make it a one-run game. The rally fell short as a line out and ground out ended the game.
Casey Smith suffered her fifth loss of the season, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing six runs off of four hits. Maci Brown took a no decision, striking out one and allowing six runs off of 10 hits.
Daunhauer finished a perfect five-for-five at the plate with three runs scored and two driven in. Lockwood and Tidwell both finished three-for-five while Dawson and Mullen tabbed two hits.
Game Two: Kentucky Wesleyan 9 – Cedarville 1
The Panthers offense reeled off 13 hits in the second game while holding Cedarville scoreless until the seventh inning. Daunhauer didn't cool down in game two, driving in two with a single to center field in the second.
Nease utilized a failed pickoff attempt to plate a run in the top of the fourth before the Panthers pulled away with three runs in the top of the fifth. With no outs and the bases loaded, Nease tabbed a single to left center, scoring two. Parker drew a walk with the bases loaded to make it 6-0 Panthers.
In the top of the sixth, Nease drove in her third run of game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Kentucky Wesleyan scored its final two runs in the top of the seventh, with Lockwood tabbing a one-run single, and Mullen with a one-run double.
Autumn Grady went the distance in her eighth win of the season, striking out one and allowing one run off of seven hits.
Daunhauer, Dawson, Tidwell and Jamie Tempel each recorded two hits while Lockwood, Mullen, Nease, Parker and Hannah Slack tabbed one a piece.
The Panthers will be back in action on Wednesday, April 26 as they head to Oakland City for a non-conference doubleheader. Kentucky Wesleyan will close out the regular season at home next weekend, hosting Malone University in a pair of doubleheaders both slated for a 12 pm CT start on Friday and Saturday. Saturday will mark Senior Day as the team honors its two seniors Casey Smith and Jessica Carmon.
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