Williamsburg, KY – Krystin took care of business on Saturday against the Bears of Shawnee State, boasting 6.2 perfect innings out of the gate on her way to another win. The Patriots won another pair of games to gather their second conference sweep of the season.
The Patriots softball program posted their winningest regular-season of the decade, jumping to 29-19 on the year following the series finale. Heading into the conference tournament, the team also charted a 17-11 record in MSC action.
GAME ONE: WIN, 5-0
Wilson chalked up a career-high day with another win in the books. In her sixth win of the season, the rookie delivered the fast ball effectively to drop seven batters on strikes. She also tossed a one-hitter through her second complete game of the season.
The batting line-up matched the pitching effectiveness on the other side of the inning, dusting five runs off six hits late in the game once the bats warmed up.
Emily Jasper led off the fourth inning action with a single up the middle, following up with a 60-foot sprint to steal second. A foul pop-out by
Maddie Sickau behind the plate pushed her to third, beating the throw by the catcher.
Meryn Livingston notched her biggest hit of the day, doubling to the left-center gap for the RBI.
With the 1-0 advantage, the Patriots padded their numbers to push more across the plate in the fifth.
Jenna Howell reached on a walk as a lead-off, followed by
Acacia Gray shrugging an infield hit.
Sarah Biggerstaff put down a perfect bunt to allow the bases to load safely.
With the ducks on the pond,
Hannah Stephenson sacrificed her at bat for the first run of the inning. Sickau bumped two more into the dugout with a run scored with her single through the left side, advancing two more bases on an error. Livingston brought around the final run after punching a hit through the left side.
Wilson went six complete innings of three batters seen, relying on her defense to help out on her path to success. Jasper made a diving save in left field to keep the streak alive in the sixth.
In the seventh with two outs, the only hit of the game bounced in and out of the glove of Howell in center, who charged the hard liner and left her feet too early trying to stretch for the catch. The only walk relinquished by Wilson came to the subsequent batter.
GAME TWO: WIN, 3-1
The Patriots bullpen continued to rattle the Bears as
Jessica Webb delivers the one-two knockout allowing the only run of the day for Shawnee State. Through the first five innings of work, the sophomore only allowed one hit.
The Patriots scrapped a run in the early going, this time by Stephenson. The junior reached initially on a walk before being batted over on Jasper's single through the hole at short. A single by Livingston rung up a one in the run column.
Two innings later, Stephenson grabbed her second hit of the game by singling to shallow left. Jasper chased down first during her at bat, tallying another infield single. Sickau loaded the bases once again with her hit finding left field grass.
Stephenson was forced out at home off Livingston's contact for the first out of the inning.
Madison Huber reached base for the first time of the day to the credit of the third baseman's error. Scoring on the errant bobble scored two as well.
Sydney Pennycuff came in to relieve Webb in the sixth after the sophomore allowed a run for the Bears from a triple and sacrifice fly. Lefty Pennycuff entered and collected another save on her impressive season without giving up a hit in 1.1 innings of work.
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