AKRON, Ohio – The Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team saw its season end on Saturday morning. The Panthers lost another dramatic contest at the Great Midwest Conference Championship. Malone scored a run in the top of the seventh to avoid extras and upset Wesleyan 5-4 at Firestone Stadium.
The Panthers (22-26) have gotten plenty of production this week from the second half of the order. Things remained consistent on Saturday as
Delaney Mixer got Wesleyan on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a two-out RBI single into right that scored
Jaclyn Parker.

The Pioneers (23-16) struck back in the top of the third as a one-out triple set the table for a big inning. With two runners on April Howeser connected on
Maci Brown's offering, drilling a three-run homerun over the leftfield fence. The Panthers responded in the bottom half as
Maddie Dawson popped a solo homerun over the right field fence, bring Wesleyan back to 3-2.
Serena Tucciarel gave the Pioneers some breathing room after a solo homerun to lead off the top of the sixth. However, the Panthers rallied again in the bottom half to tie the game with
Meredith Daunhauer leading off the frame with a triple. A walk to Dawson followed, she then stole second. A throwing error allowed Dawson to move to third on the steal and Daunhauer to score.
Lexie Mullen then tied the game with a sacrifice fly giving the Panthers new life.
The seventh inning featured swinging emotions from both dugouts. A lead-off walk led to
Autumn Grady coming in relief of
Evyn Hendrickson. Back-to-back singles allowed the Pioneers to take a 5-4 lead before Grady got Wesleyan out of the inning.
In the bottom half, Mixer coaxed a one-walk before being lifted for a pinch-runner. A pinch-hit single by
Jamie Tempel put runners on first and second for
Mallory Nease. However, Nease went down swinging, leaving Daunhauer as the Panthers' next hope. Daunhauer pulled a single into right, but the game ended with
Lacie Mills being thrown out at the plate.
Maci Brown received a no-decision in her final college start. She completed 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Daunhauer finished the game two for four with a run scored. Dawson was one for two with a homerun and walk.
Stay up to date on all your Panther news by following @KWCpanthers on Twitter and by liking the "Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics" Facebook page.