OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team started its Great Midwest title defense with a pair of losses to the University of Findlay on Friday afternoon. The Panthers fell 10-2 in the opener before a 9-3 loss in the finale.
 
Game 1: Findlay 10, Kentucky Wesleyan 2
Autumn Grady pitched four scoreless innings to start the day. The offense backed her up with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Abbey Winstead plated a pair with a line-drive double into centerfield.
 
The Oilers (11-14, 2-0) sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth inning scoring nine times. Amanda Delmonte and Kelley Cejer each hit two-run homeruns in the frame. UF added another run in the sixth and held the Panthers (12-11, 0-2 G-MAC) scoreless in the bottom half to end the game.
 
Grady pitched 4.2 innings allowing five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
 
Game 2: Findlay 9, Kentucky Wesleyan 3
The Oilers' bats remained hot in the second game as they scored two in the second and six in the third to take an 8-0 lead over the Panthers. The Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a run on a Findlay error. Wesleyan added two more in the sixth on Maddie Dawson's two-run single.
 
Findlay left the bases loaded and ended the frame with minimal damage. A run scoring double in the top of the seventh game the Oilers a 9-3 lead and that is where the contest ended after a quick bottom half.
 
Grady came in relief to pitch 4.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts. Dawson was one for two with two RBIs.
 
The Panthers will host Hillsdale College on Sunday. First pitch at Foster Field is scheduled for 12PM.
 
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