HUNTSVILLE, AL. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College softball team bounced back on Saturday at the Sam Baldwin Memorial Invitational. The Panthers picked-up two identical 6-5 victories over Shorter University. 
 
In the top of the first, the Panthers (3-5) had one runner on and two outs when they rallied. Chloe Apple started the scoring with an RBI single. Hannah Beasley maneuvered another single through the shortstop to drive in another run while Abby Cunningham followed with another run scoring double. Kami Parlin ended the rally with an RBI single. 
 
The Hawks answered three runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Panthers' 4-3 lead remained through five innings, but Shorter scored two in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead heading into the final inning. 
 
After a host of defensive changes the Panthers got the lead-off hitter, Paige Crain, on base after a throwing error. Kennedy Mathies followed with the biggest blow of the game, a two-run blast over the right field fence. The Hawks went quietly in the bottom half as the Panthers picked-up the win. 
 
Kami Parlin pitched a complete game to earn the victory. She allowed five runs, three earned runs on 10 hits with one walk. 
 
Game two played out a little differently, but the Panthers still came away with a 6-5 victory. The Hawks led-off with two runs in the top of the first. Wesleyan tied the game with two runs in the bottom half. With two on and two out, Abby Cunningham tied the game with a two run single into right centerfield gap. 
 
A sacrifice fly gave the Panthers the lead in the bottom of the third and they took that lead into the seventh. The Hawks scored three times in the top of the seventh, taking a 5-3 edge. A walk and double got the go-ahead run to the plate with one-out. Matheis stepped to the plate again and deliver another crushing blow, a three-run homerun over the centerfield fence. 
 
Matheis finished two for three with a homerun and three RBIs. Abby Cunningham also finished with a pair of hits. Riley Cunningham earned the victory after seven innings of work allowing five runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.
 
The Panthers are scheduled to have two more games on Sunday against the host, Alabama Huntsville. First pitch is scheduled for 12PM. 
 
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