Williamsburg, KY – Softball opens their 2019 campaign with a big win, as freshmen set the stage for the rest of the season against the Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan University on Wednesday. The Patriots took the 7-6 decision to collect their first win of the year, but dropped a 6-5 loss in game two after moving the road games to home on Tuesday.
 
Acacia Gray led the squad in game one's win, tallying four hits from four at bats including two doubles. The rookie scored twice in her debut with the Patriots, tallying two runs batted in as well. Krystin Wilson gathered the first win from the circle in her debut as well, tabbing a strikeout in an inning of work.
 
As predicted by Coach Bailey Dillender, the speed of the outfield proved dangerous to the opposition. Hannah Stephenson twice made plays at the plate coming off the hands of the Patriots outfielders. Jenna Howell in center field and Emily Jasper in left field each got an assist on the putout at home off of powerful, on-time throws.
 
The Patriots fell behind the Bulldogs early as Tennessee Wesleyan put up a 4-1 lead through the top of the fourth inning. Cumberlands scored in back to back innings. Gray led the fourth inning rally with a double to bring home Stephenson who singled earlier in the inning.  Gray would later score on a single by Madison Huber up the middle.
 
After leaving two Bulldog runners on base in the top of the fifth, the Patriots rallied three more runs to take their first lead of the season. Tori Malone clears the bases with a stand-up double, tabbing two RBIs along the way by bringing home Howell, and advances to third on the throw. Malone comes home to complete the run after a bobble by the center fielder off Huber's hit.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan scored a single run in the sixth to even out the ball game at 6-6. Incredible pitching by Wilson meant three up and three down, collecting a strikeout and leaving one on in the top of the seventh. Olivia DeZarn, pinch running for the walked Howell, stole second to get into scoring position, and was further advanced by Gray's single. Jasper had the game-winning at bat, causing a misplayed grounder by the short stop to bring home DeZarn for the final run.
 
The Patriots fall to the Bulldogs in game two, 6-5. Wilson found herself in the circle after the Patriots relinquished five runs in the fourth inning but was unable to claim a comeback win. Maddie Sickau was a top player offensively and defensively, making a spectacular catch on a line drive late in the day. The rookie also tallied three hits from four at bats, batting in two runners.
 
Stephenson got the first run on the board after advancing the bases on the credit of Sickau's double in the second inning. The Patriots were unable to turn more runs, leaving two on at the end of the inning, but would turn three runs in the following inning to take the early 4-0 lead.
 
In the third, Huber slammed a lead-off double to get into scoring position, while Gray and Stephenson jump on base on walks to load the bases. The scoring swing began with a single dropping in front of the left fielder to bring home Huber and keep the bases loaded. Gray and Stephenson completed their base running with runs as well, crossing the plate on a passed ball and wild pitch respectively to open the scoring margin.
 
In the fifth, the Bulldogs bounced back, scoring five runs on pitching-transfer Jessica Webb to allow Wilson to enter the game. Tennessee Wesleyan scored again in the sixth as the lead-off hitter crosses home plate. The Patriots respond with a run of their own as Sarah Biggerstaff bats a sacrifice fly to advance Howell home, narrowing the differential back to one run.
 
The Patriots went into the final half inning with the momentous three-up, three-down inning by Wilson. UC, however, would come up short despite two runners on. Howell battled to a two-out, full-count at bat but popped out to short to end the game.
 
Softball travels to Montgomery, AL on Friday with a four-game stretch on the calendar against the Faulkner Invitational. The Patriots face the Midway Eagles first at 3:00 PM on Friday, followed by a two-game, two-day series against Faulkner. UC closes the weekend against Truett-McConnell on Saturday with the first pitch set for 2:00 PM.
 
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