EVANSVILLE, Ind.  –  For the first time in over 20 seasons, the Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team reached 30 wins in a single season.  The last team to accomplish the feat was in 1996 under Head Coach Ken Ayers with a record of 35-23.  Kentucky Wesleyan split with Oakland City on Wednesday night in a non-conference doubleheader to move to 30-20 on the season.

Game One: Kentucky Wesleyan 9 – Oakland City 2
The Panthers pounded out three home runs in the first two innings to jump out to a 6-0 lead.  Courtney Lockwood hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center.  Mallory Nease also hit a two-run blast to left center for her sixth home run of the season.

The home run saga continued in the top of the second inning with Jaylin Tidwell knocking it over the left field fence for her fourth home run of the season.

Jamie Tempel doubled with two outs in the top of the third and was driven in by a single to left field from Jaclyn Parker, putting the Panthers ahead 7-0 after three innings.

Oakland City scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice bunt followed by a single and a double. 

Three straight singles from Nease, Abby Winstead and Tempel loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh.  Meredith Daunhauer knocked a single to the left side to score Nease and a sacrifice fly from Maddie Dawson brought home Winstead to seal the 9-2 win.

Casey Smith went the distance in her seventh win of the season, striking out six and allowing two runs off of eight hits and not allowing any walks.

Tidwell finished game one three-for-five with two runs scored and two driven in.  Daunhauer, Lockwood, Nease, Winstead, Tempel and Parker each tabbed two hits with Lockwood and Nease driving in two runs each.

Game Two: Kentucky Wesleyan 0 – Oakland City 1 (10 innings)
The Mighty Oaks threatened in the bottom of the fifth, putting runners on first and second with only one out but a Mullen – Tidwell – Lockwood double play would end the inning.

Kentucky Wesleyan had a scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth with two runners in scoring position but were unable to plate any runs.

Oakland City took the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the tenth, plating one run on a double to left field.

Jessica Carmon suffered her fourth loss of the season, pitching 9.0 innings and striking out one while allowing one run off of 13 hits.  Dawson and Tidwell finished with two hits a piece while Daunhauer, Mullen, Caitlyn Lawson and Parker tabbed one hit each.

The Panthers close out the regular season at home this 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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