ALBERTIVLLE, AL. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team split opening day at the Charger Chillout hosted by the University of Alabama - Huntsville. The Panthers opened the 2024 season with a 6-4 loss to Montevallo, but bounced back in the second game, hitting four homeruns en route to a 10-9 victory over Christian Brothers University.
 
Megan Matheis got the Panthers on the board first in the season opener with a two-out homerun to left-centerfield in the top of the first. The Falcons answered in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead.
 
A Falcon error helped the Panthers tie the game in the top of third as Chloe Apple singled. In the top of the fourth, Wesleyan took a 3-2 lead after Allie Dunn knocked a ball over the leftfield fence. However three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth helped sink the Panthers. Wesleyan added another run in the seventh and left the tying runs on base before Montevallo got the final out.
 
In the second game, the Panthers kept the pressure on throughout the contest. Chloe Apple homered to right to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Two batters later Megan Matheis hit her second homerun of the day to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. The Buccaneers (3-3) hit a homerun in the top of second inning to cut their deficit in half, but the Panthers answered in the bottom half.
 
Wesleyan scored four runs on four hits in the second. Apple drove in one with a double, but the big knock came from Dunn who hit a three-run homerun to centerfield. Dunn's homer was her second of the day as well.
 
CBU added two runs in the third, but the Kennedy Matheis plated two runs with a homerun in the fourth. The Bucs would not go away, they added three runs on three hits in the top of the fifth to pull within one. The Panthers manufactured two runs in the bottom half by being aggressive on the basepaths. Apple and Megan Matheis each drove in runs with singles, taking a 10-7 lead.
 
The Bucs threatened in the top of the seventh as they scored twice. Chloe Williams will be credited for the win with 2.1 innings of relief, while Immi Mann records the save by pitching the final two innings.
 
Apple finished the game four for four with a double, homerun and three RBIs. Megan Matheis was two for three with a homerun and 2 RBIs.
 
With weather expected to be moving into the area tomorrow, the Panthers are scheduled to play two more games at the Charger Chillout. Wesleyan is slated to play Shorter and Alabama Huntsville at the earliest available time.
 
Stay up to date on all your Panther news by following @KWCpanthers on Twitter and Instagram and by liking the "Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics" Facebook page.