Williamsburg, KY – The UC softball team opened their season today with a doubleheader against the Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan University at the UC Softball Complex. The Bulldogs were able to steal both games by a score of 4-1 in the first and 3-0 for the second game. After the games, the Bulldogs improve to 2-0 on the year while the Patriots drop to 0-2.
In the first game, the Patriots held the Bulldogs scoreless to start as UC jumped ahead early with a run.
Elisa Mauldin tallied a lead-off double to start then
Kailin Yantz made her way on base, off a hit by pitch. Off the bat of
Hannah Stephenson, Mauldin was put out while Yantz moved up a base to second.
Tara Comer followed through with a single to score Yantz, giving Cumberlands a 1-0 lead to start the game. The Patriots were able to stay in the lead until the top of the fourth when the Bulldogs made their way on base and followed up with an RBI to tie the game at 1-1.
The score remained tied at 1-1 until the top of the sixth when Tennessee Wesleyan knocked in another run. A defensive miscue allowed the Bulldogs to put a runner on second, two batters later a single to center scored the run to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. The top of the seventh was another opportunity for Tennessee Wesleyan as they scored on a lone hit and a Patriot error to move their lead to 4-1. UC would be unable to recover from the deficit and fell to the Bulldogs in the first game 4-1.
Leading offensively, Comer tallied two hits and an RBI for the Patriots while Stephenson notched two hits of her own. Yantz chipped in a hit and a run as Mauldin earned a double in the game. In the circle, Sidney Maynard received the loss in 5.1 innings pitched. Maynard allowed seven hits and two runs (one earned) with two strikeouts.
Aryanna Cannoy pitched an inning for the Patriots, allowing a hit and two runs (one earned).
Megan Meyers recorded 0.2 innings pitched in the game.
The second game started with the Bulldogs holding the momentum early. Tennessee Wesleyan opened up the game with back-to-back singles and followed up with another single to score two, taking an early 2-0 lead. UC was able to get runners on but were unable to push the runners across the plate while the Bulldogs continued their run. In the sixth inning, the Bulldogs knocked in another run after loading the bases with a lone hit, increasing their lead to 3-0. The Patriots couldn't muster the momentum to rally back and Tennessee Wesleyan took the second game 3-0.
Offensively, three Patriots tallied two hits apiece. Mauldin, Comer, and
Hayley Kilburn each recorded two hits in the game. Comer also earned a double in the contest.
Sidney Pennycuff received the loss in 5.2 innings of work. Pennycuff allowed seven hits and three runs (all earned) with two strikeouts in her collegiate debut. Comer pitched 1.1 innings in relief without allowing a hit or run and recorded two strikeouts.
The Patriots will be back on the field on Saturday, February 17 as they host the tenth-ranked Wildcats of Indiana Wesleyan for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 PM. Live video will be available
here, live stats can be found
here.
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