OWENSBORO, Ky. – In a rematch of the 2018 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship series, the Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team split an afternoon match up on Sunday. The Panthers took game one, 10-2, before falling in game two, 6-2, to Hillsdale College.
Game 1: HC 2 – KWC 10 (5 innings)
The Panthers pounced early with a pair of runs in the first inning thanks to a two-run single from Abbey Winstead. Hillsdale responded with two runs in the top of the second before Maddie Dawson gave Wesleyan a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second.
Wesleyan's defense shined from there, not allowing a runner past first in the final three innings.
Four hits in the both the third and fourth inning plated four runs in each inning for the Panthers. Terrilynn Summers tabbed a RBI single to right field before Meredith Daunhauer cleared the bases with a two-
out, two-run triple to left center field.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Andee Powell laid down a RBI single in left field. With the bases loaded, Jamie Tempel brought all three runners home with a double to right field for the Panthers final three runs of the game.
Evyn Hendrickson picked up her third win of the season, going the distance for 5.0 innings pitched with seven strikeouts. The sophomore allowed two runs off of two hits while walking five.
Daunhauer finished game one a perfect three-for-three at the plate with two runs driven in and one run scored. Winstead, Powell and Tempel both recorded two hits. Tempel posted a team-high three RBI's.
Game 2: HC 6 – KWC 2
Despite matching Hillsdale's nine hits in game two, the Panthers were unable to pull away with the win. The Chargers posted the first runs of the game in the third inning, scoring two runs off of three hits.
Wesleyan responded with one run in the bottom of the third. Lexie Mullen drove in Daunhauer with a double to left center to make it a one-run ball game.
Hillsdale pulled away with two runs in both the fourth and fifth inning. The Panthers scored one run in the bottom of the fifth as Winstead reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Michaela Polivick to score but the comeback bid was not enough.
Bailey Woodall suffered her fourth loss of the season, going 4.0 innings with seven hits, four runs and one strikeout. Maci Brown gave up two runs off of two hits in 0.1 innings. Autumn Grady threw the final 2.2 innings, striking out three and holding the Chargers hitless.
The Panthers continue G-MAC play next weekend, heading to north west Ohio for a match up at Ursuline on Saturday and Lake Erie on Sunday.
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