WEST PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- Finding different ways to win softball games has become the calling card of the Shawnee State softball program.

Kristen Bradshaw's group found a way to do just that in Shawnee State's doubleheader victory over the Brescia (Ky.) Bearcats' softball program as the Bears scored 10 runs on 12 hits in a 10-0, five-inning mercy rule over the Bearcats in Game 1, then rallied from a 3-1 deficit after four innings of work in Game 2 by scoring four unanswered tallies in the fifth and sixth frames of play to claim a 5-3 win over Brescia in Game 2 to seal a doubleheader sweep of the Bearcats Saturday afternoon in a pair of River States Conference contests that were held at Doc Singleton Park in West Portsmouth.

Game Summaries

Over the course of both contests, Shawnee State amassed 12 runs on 20 hits as the Bears went 20-for-45 (.444) between both affairs -- raising its team batting average for the year to a stout .347 and rank 28th in the NAIA in that category overall.

Between both games, a total of six players (Sierra Dunnagan, Jenna Christopher, Bianca Belo-Diaz, Mackenzie Hale, Emily Moore, Sydney Skiver) amassed multi-hit games, with Dunnagan collecting multiple hits in both contests en route to going a combined 4-for-7 with an RBI and two runs scored from her leadoff position. The Bears won Game 2 by scoring three of its five runs with two outs against it in the contest.

Pitching-wise, Genavie Espinoza and Emma Wargel each threw complete games to bookend the doubleheader sweep -- with Espinoza firing a complete game four-hitter in Game 1 and Wargel recovering from a fourth inning where she allowed three runs on three hits in the frame by firing a one-hitter without allowing another run over the remaining six stanzas around it en route to nabbing a complete game seven inning victory inside the circle with eight strikeouts to boot, completing the successful run.

Shawnee State (9-9, 7-5 River States Conference) has won seven out of its last 10 contests dating back to its doubleheader against West Virginia Tech on March 12. The Bears now sit in sole possession of third place in the RSC, just one game back of Indiana-Southeast for second place in the conference race. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Oakland City are tied for fourth place at 6-6 in the RSC.

Game 1

Shawnee State wasted no time jumping on Brescia in Saturday's opener -- as Sierra Dunnagan's and Jenna Christopher's back-to-back singles to start the bottom half of the opening inning were followed by a sacrifice bunt by Bianca Belo-Diaz that moved both runners into scoring position.

Then, after a passed ball scored Dunnagan, Mackenzie Hale cranked her second home run in as many days with a two-run blast to left center field to give the Bears a 3-0 lead -- and Emily Moore's triple was followed by an RBI groundout from Cameryn Davidson to immediately put Shawnee State ahead by a 4-0 count after an inning of work.

After a scoreless second inning of work, the Bears pounced again in the third frame by adding in two additional runs, as Belo-Diaz's leadoff single was followed by a passed ball that allowed Belo-Diaz to advance into scoring position. Moore and fellow freshman talent Sydney Skiver then followed with RBI singles that ultimately pushed Shawnee State's advantage to a 6-0 margin after three innings of play.

In the fourth frame, the Shawnee State batting order continued to do damage -- as the Bears went right to work once again. A hit batter was followed by three consecutive singles by Dunnagan, Christopher and Belo-Diaz, the latter of which drove in two runs to give Shawnee State an 8-0 lead, while Hale, the following batter, shot a two-RBI double to right to set the final margin in Game 1.

For the contest, Hale (2-for-3, double, home run, four RBI, run scored), Moore (2-for-2, triple, walk, RBI, two runs scored), Belo-Diaz (2-for-2, two RBI, two runs scored), and Dunnagan and Christopher (2-for-3, two runs scored each) all joined the multi-hit column, while Skiver (1-for-2, walk, RBI) and Genavie Espinoza (1-for-3) rounded out those who reached the hit column in Game 1.

Game 2

While ultimately striking first in Game 2 behind a leadoff double from Sydney Skiver, a sacrifice bunt from Cameryn Davidson and an RBI groundout from Emily Cheatham in the third frame to take a 1-0 advantage, Shawnee State gave up three runs to Brescia in the fourth frame of Game 2.

However, despite trailing by a 3-1 margin after four innings of work, the Bears chipped away at the deficit.

In the fifth inning, a one-out single by Skiver was followed by back-to-back singles by Emily Cheatham and Sierra Dunnagan with two gone in the fifth inning of work -- the latter of which scoring Skiver -- to draw the Bears within one run of the lead, 3-2.

Then, in the sixth frame of action, Shawnee State came through in a big way once again -- as a hit batter and a sacrifice bunt by Mackenzie Hale put the tying run in scoring position. The following batter, Emily Moore, then drove in pinch runner Haley Hawes with the game-tying run as Moore's RBI single back up the middle of the diamond tied the game at three runs apiece.

With Moore on first base, Gracey McCullough and Davidson each drew walks around a flyout -- allowing Shawnee State to load the bases with two gone in the bottom of the sixth. Genavie Espinoza then came in to pinch hit -- and proceeded to post the biggest hit between both affairs by driving in Moore and McCullough with a two-RBI single to center field to make the final difference in the contest.

For the contest, Skiver (2-for-3, double, two runs scored) and Dunnagan (2-for-4, RBI, stolen base) led the Bears offensively, while Espinoza (1-for-1, two RBI), Cheatham (1-for-2, RBI), Moore (1-for-3, RBI, run scored) and Hale (1-for-2) all joined in the hit column.

Additional

The Bears are scheduled to play four games between Monday and Tuesday as Shawnee State is scheduled to play at Ohio Christian Monday afternoon and Georgetown (Ky.) Tuesday afternoon. Game times are set for 2 p.m. Monday in Circleville, Ohio and 3 p.m. Tuesday in Georgetown, Ky.