Albertville, Ala. – The Kentucky Wesleyan softball team concluded their season-opening weekend at the Charger Chillout on Sunday.
The Panthers battled the Trojans of Trevecca Nazarene in a high-scoring affair to begin the day. Trevecca went to work early against Wesleyan starter Lexie Onyett, putting up three runs in the first frame and never looking back.
The Trojans added another in the top of the second before the Panthers had a strong response in the bottom half. Chloe Apple singled and Guinny Garr doubled to score Apple and set Wesleyan up with no outs, and Kennedy Matheis came through with another RBI double to put the Panthers within two at 4-3. Riley Hall then drove in Matheis with a single, adding one more to the Panthers' tally and putting them within one at 4-3.
Later, after coach Miles Mallette called on Augusta Garr to pitch in the top of the fourth, the Trojans used three singles and some strategic baserunning to tack on four more runs and make the score 7-3.
Wesleyan wouldn't lay down, answering with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Gabi Logsdon was hit by a pitch, both Lauren Pellerito and Matheis singled, and Augusta Garr drove in two with another single to inch closer at 7-5.
Over the final three innings, Trevecca was able to double their run total with seven additional runs. The Panthers added two in the bottom of the sixth on Lexie Onyett's two-RBI triple, but Wesleyan would eventually fall 14-7.
Matheis had quite the day, recording a hit in all four of her plate appearances including her second-inning RBI double. Apple came in right behind her with three hits, and both Lexie Onyett (triple) and Guinny Garr (double) had extra-base knocks.
In the second game of Sunday's doubleheader, both offenses were quiet for the first couple innings, including Panthers' starter Immi Mann allowing just one walk through two. In the bottom of the third, Delta State began to wake up. A triple and a wild pitch scored the first run, and later, a two-run home run put the Statesmen up 3-0.
In the top of the fourth, Wesleyan had their best inning at the plate thus far in the young season. Onyett reached on an error and both Apple and Guinny Garr singled to load the bases with one out. Kennedy Matheis was then hit by a pitch to drive in Onyett, and Grace Colvin followed by reaching on a fielder's choice to score Apple. Later, with two outs and the bases still loaded, Hall delivered with a bases-clearing double to put the Panthers up 5-3.
Delta State immediately responded, getting two to cross the plate in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. The Statesmen scored two more in the fifth to take the lead at 7-5, and that was an advantage they would not relinquish. Wesleyan went away quietly in their last two chances at the plate, ending a hard-fought weekend at the Charger Chillout.
Guinny Garr had a nice game at the plate with two hits and a double, and Hall had her best game of the young season with her three-RBI double in the fourth.
Wesleyan next travels to the Railsplitter Invitational in Harrogate, Tennessee, for four games on February 15-16.
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