HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team opened its 2020 campaign on Friday, suffering a 15-2 loss to West Georgia before nearly upsetting No. 18 Alabama Huntsville.
Game 1: West Georgia 15 – Kentucky Wesleyan 2
The Panthers put runs on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the first. Meryck Hardley led off the game with a triple to right center in her first collegiate at bat. Two pitches later, Maddie Dawson tucked a double inside the right field line, driving in Hardley.
With two outs and Dawson on third, Abbey Winstead laid down a bloop single in left, scoring Dawson and giving Wesleyan a 2-0 lead after one.
The Wolves responded with four runs in the top of the second including a bases-clearing single. After two scoreless innings for both teams, West Georgia extended their lead to 6-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth. The Wolves scored nine runs in the final inning.
Dawson finished two-for-three with one RBI. Hardley, Lexie Mullen and Abbey Winstead each recorded one hit.
Evyn Hendrickson suffered her first loss of the season after throwing 4.1 innings with six runs off of seven hits and punching out four. Cameron Hamilton went 1.0 innings with four runs off of three hits. Bailey Woodall threw the final 0.2 innings allowing five unearned runs off of three hits.
Game 2: No. Alabama Huntsville 5 – Kentucky Wesleyan 4
Wesleyan held a 2-1 lead after the first inning. Back-to-back singles from Jaylin Tidwell and Mullen loaded the bases with one out. Madison Scott reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Dawson to score. Kaitlyn Lasala ripped a single up the middle, allowing Tidwell to score. The Chargers got one back in the bottom of the inning with a RBI ground out.
Three scoreless frames kept the Panthers lead at one. Tidwell and Madison Scott both tabbed singles to put two on with one out. Micaela Polivick laced a triple to right center, scoring both runners and extending Wesleyan's lead to 4-1. Alabama Huntsville responded with a RBI double to cut the deficit to two.
The Panthers put two runners in scoring position in the top of the sixth but were unable to cross home. The Chargers put one run on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a lead off home run.
Wesleyan stranded two more runners in scoring position in the top of the seventh. With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, the Chargers tabbed a two-run double to steal the 5-4 win.
The Panthers pounded 11 hits with Tidwell, Mullen and Scott each recording two. Timely hitting proved costly for Wesleyan as they stranded 11 base runners.
Bailey Woodall went 6.1 innings in her first start and loss of the season. Woodall punched out two while allowing five runs off of seven hits. Hendrickson allowed one hit and one walk in the bottom of the seventh.
The Panthers close out opening weekend with a double header against Christian Brothers. First pitch is set for 12 pm CT in Huntsville, Ala.
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