LEBANON, Tenn. (Softball) – The Shawnee State softball team mounted a furious comeback in the final frame in its first Mid-South Conference, but came up one run short in a twinbill sweep at the hands of Cumberland University on Saturday at the Cumberland Softball Field.
The Bears opened MSC action with an 8-0 loss to the Bulldogs – in a five inning contest – despite being tied at 0-0 through three innings. CU plated five runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to put things away two innings ahead of schedule.
SSU collected just three hits in the game, as Hanna Dittoe, Kelsey Jenkins (SR/Wheelersburg, Ohio) and Jenna Crawford (FR/Franklin Furnace, Ohio) each recorded knocks, including a lone extra base hit – a double from Dittoe.
Seven different players knocked in a run for Cumberland, as the Bulldogs busted the game open in the fourth frame. Tied at 0-0, Vienna Benavides opened the frame with a single and Tessa Tomaselli followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs.
Madison Gonzalez immediately followed with an RBI knock and Katelyn Nowakowski plated another with a bunt single. Sydney Broderick kept the no-out rally going with a two-RBI single to make it 4-0. With two away in the inning and the order flipped, Benavides knocked in the final run of the frame with a single, bringing the score to 5-0 in favor of the home squad.
The Bulldogs added three more in the fifth, culminating with an RBI single from Kassydi Montgomery to bring the game to a close on the walk-off hit. Allie Chapman (SR/Chesapeake, Ohio) took the loss for the Bears, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 14 hits. Chapman struck out six and didn't walk any.
Game two opened with a very similar start, as neither team brought home a run in the first three innings. This time, SSU got on the board first, when Rachael Ash (FR/Grove City, Ohio) plated Abbi Sparks (FR/Wheelersburg, Ohio) with an RBI single in the fourth.
After a scoreless bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth, Cumberland took the lead with a three-run fifth. All three runs came via the long-ball, as Montgomery knocked a two-out homer to left field. After a Benavides single, Tomaselli made it 3-1 with another big fly over the left field wall. The Bulldogs would add an unearned run in the sixth on a throwing error.
SSU made a run in the final frame, as Ash opened the frame with a single up the middle. Jordyn Pennington (FR/Minford, Ohio) made it two straight with no outs to put runners on first and second before a walk from Miranda Melvin (SO/Oak Hill, Ohio) loaded the bases with no outs.
A fielder's choice at the plate put one away, before an RBI walk from Hannah Thacker (FR/Dry Ridge, Ky.) made it 4-2. Dittoe knocked in another with a sacrifice fly, but CU pitcher Leah Newsom induced a groundout to bring the game to an end.
Newsome earned the victory, going 6.2 innings, while allowing just one run on four hits and a walk. Alex Bowers (FR/New London, Ohio) took the loss for the Bears, pitching six-complete, while allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits. Bowers struck out a pair and did not walk a batter.
