In two well-contested affairs Friday evening, the Shawnee State softball program overcame early deficits in both affairs, but ultimately dropped both contests by 10-8 and 7-6 margins to the Georgetown Tigers' softball program Friday in a conference doubleheader held in Georgetown.
Shawnee State, who averaged seven runs between the two games, showcased promise with its lineup offensively, taking a strong Georgetown lineup (16-12, 10-10 MSC) to the brink in both contests.
In the opener, Shawnee State got behind by a 5-0 count entering the top half of the fourth frame, but rallied back to tie the score by notching five runs in the fourth to tie the game.
During that half-inning, a leadoff double by Kalle Coleman and a single by Sunetrius Armstrong were followed by back-to-back run-producing doubles by Brittani Wolfenbarker and Cassie Schaefer -- the former a two-RBI double and the latter a one-RBI extra base hit -- to pull Shawnee State within 5-3. Later in the same inning, Mo Wolansky took a ball yard as the junior's two-run homer tied the score at five apiece.
Georgetown, however, answered with a five-run fourth that put the first contest out of reach -- even following a late three-run rally by SSU in the seventh and final frame, one in which Coleman (two-run homer) and Gracie Keplinger (solo home run) supplied back-to-back bombs to bring SSU within a 10-8 count before settling for defeat.
In the second affair, Shawnee State trailed by a 6-2 margin after three innings of play, but were able to rally back as the Bears, down by the same score in the top of the sixth, got an RBI single from Sydney Spence in the frame to cut the Georgetown lead to a 6-3 count.
Then, SSU really got its offense cooking in the top half of the seventh frame.
As with the first contest, the big inning was started by the middle of the order as Coleman walked and Armstrong followed with a single that was followed by an RBI double by Keplinger and a two-RBI single by Wolansky to tie the score. Unfortunately, Georgetown's Carly Oliver came across to score the following inning on a single by Cassie Rannells, forcing Shawnee State to settle for the 7-6 defeat.
Shawnee State will get back at it with a pair of contests against Georgetown Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
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