The softball program at Shawnee State, despite being one-hit in a 5-0 Game 1 setback, bounced back in a strong manner in Game 2, with Cassie Schaefer's complete-game five hitter and a multi-hit day from Kylie Ray proving to be a difference-maker in the Bears' 3-2 victory over the Cumberland (Tenn.) Phoenix Friday evening in Lebanon.
Shawnee State, who is 3-15 now and 1-13 in the Mid-South Conference, bested Cumberland in Game 2 by not committing a single error behind Schaefer defensively. The Phoenix, by contrast, committed six defensive errors.
Schaefer throws strongly
Well-known for her pitching talents at nearby Notre Dame High School in Portsmouth, Cassie Schaefer's performance was critical in the win.
In addition to throwing her complete game five-hitter, Schaefer struck out three batters while not giving any Cumberland batter a free pass on the evening in 87 pitches.
The freshman gave up a sacrifice fly RBI in the opening inning and an RBI single in the latter affair, but limited the Phoenix's damage otherwise from there in the win as Schaefer only gave up three hits from the first through sixth frames of action and only gave up one extra base hit -- an RBI double -- in the 3-2 win.
In addition to her pitching performance on the bump in Game 2, Schaefer was the only player to record hits in both contests, going 1-for-3 in Game 1 and 1-for-4 in Game 2 in the split.
Ray, Rankin continue productivity
Having enjoyed solid seasons to this point, outfielders Kylie Ray and Ashton Rankin added to their strong bats with their performances
Ray, who was hitting a team-best .389 entering this weekend's series, went 2-for-4 in Game 2 while Rankin, who was hitting .286 entering the weekend series but clubbing the ball at a 8-for-20 clip (.400) over her last seven games, went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored in the contest.
The latter, in fact, arguably posted the two biggest at-bats of the game, posting a leadoff double in the second inning and coming around to score to tie the contest at one apiece following a throwing error, then scoring again off of a throwing error in the fourth frame following a leadoff walk to help spearhead the Bears' offense.
For the season, Ray is hitting .372 (16-of-43) while playing and starting in 17 of Shawnee State's 18 affairs, while Rankin raised her average to a .297 mark (11-of-37).
Additional/NEXT UP
Shawnee State gets back to work against Cumberland (Tenn.) Saturday morning in Lebanon. Game time is set for 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT.
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