PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (Softball) – Miranda Pauley (JR/Portsmouth, Ohio) surrendered just five hits and an unearned run in a complete game performance, as the Shawnee State softball team rebounded from a three-hit offensive performance in game one – a 4-0 defeat – to knock off Kentucky Christian, 3-1, in game two and earn a split on Thursday afternoon at Boone Coleman Field.
Heidi Hall (JR/Greenwich, Ohio), Hannah Dittoe (SR/Pickerington, Ohio) and Peighton Williams (FR/Portsmouth, Ohio) each knocked in a run for the Bears, who took advantage of just four hits in the second game to bring three runs across.
Game 1
Shawnee State (6-6) struggled at the dish in game one, collecting just three hits. The first came in the second inning, when Megan Shupert (FR/West Portsmouth, Ohio) beat out a ground ball for an infield hit – though the Bears were unable to take advantage.
KCU (10-9) struck first in the game, pushing three runs across on three hits in the fourth inning. It would be one of the few times the Knights got to SSU starter Morgan Conrad (SO/Circleville, Ohio) in the contest.
Conrad went the full seven frames, allowing nine hits on four runs – though just one was earned – in her fourth loss of the season. KCU's Katelyn Miller earned the win, moving to 7-3 on the year.
The Bears were held to just a single hit until the seventh inning, when Tara Duncan (JR/Lancaster, Ohio) lifted a single to left field. Williams followed with a two-out hit to center, but a strikeout from Miller brought the contest to a close.
Game 2
In game two, the Bears again found themselves behind in the early frames, as Kentucky Christian took advantage of a pair of errors in the third inning to jump ahead with a 1-0 advantage.
SSU responded immediately in the bottom of the frame, retaking the lead for good. Jenna Crawford (SO/Franklin Furnace, Ohio) opened the inning with a one-out single and Katlyn Gleich (FR/Grove City, Ohio) followed with a walk. Following an error which loaded the bases, Dittoe and Williams drew back-to-back walks plating a pair of runs.
The Bears got an insurance run in the fourth, when Morgan McReynolds (SO/Covington, Ohio) drew a leadoff walk. Pinch running for McReynolds, Madi Phillips (FR/Portsmouth, Ohio) advanced to second on a sac bunt from Miranda Melvin (JR/Oak Hill, Ohio), stole third and scored on a two-out single from Hall.
Pauley would need no more, allowing just two, two-out hits over the final four innings to lead the Bears to the victory.
Shawnee State is back in action Friday, opening up Mid-South Conference play with a doubleheader versus Cumberland University. The Bears and Phoenix are slated for a 2 p.m. start at Boone Coleman Field.
