Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Cumberland

LEBANON, Tenn.- The softball was back in action on Tuesday. The schedule kept the team on the road, taking them to the home of the Cumberland University Lady Phoenix for a doubleheader.

Game One:

Though the bats were active for the Lady Bulldogs, the team did not score a run until the third inning. Facing a 1-0 deficit, Bailee Phillips hit a home run to tie the game 1-1. Cumberland broke the tie in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs to move ahead 3-1. 

The momentum stayed with the opponents through the remainder of the game as they scored five runs in the fifth inning to win game one of the doubleheader 8-1.

Courtney Sneed, Macy Chastain, and Tatum Massengale all had two hits in the game. Madison Stott had four strikeouts in the circle.

Game Two:

A rough start occurred for TWU in the first inning of game two. Cumberland scored four runs in the bottom of the first to put the Lady Bulldogs in a 4-0 hole. The team began to dig out of the hole in the third inning.

Mackenzie Baldwin opened the inning with a single to left field. Carlynn Atamaniuk followed with a bunt single while Chastain loaded the bases with her bunt single. Sneed brought Baldwin home with a single up the middle and a ground out by Phillips gave Atamaniuk the chance to score, making the score 4-2 at the end of the inning. 

In the fifth inning, Tennessee Wesleyan evened the score. Sneed started with a double, moving to third on a Phillips single. Massengale brought Sneed home with a single. Pinch-runner Italia Kyle scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Courtney Wilson, making the score 4-4.

The sixth inning saw the Lady Bulldogs take the lead. An error allowed Atamaniuk to reach first and Chastain hit a bunt single to get to first. A sacrifice bunt by Taylor Penning moved each runner and Sneed hit a single up the middle that scored both base runners, moving the score to 6-4. A double by Phillips made the score 7-4 as Sneed scored and TWU ended the inning leading 8-4 after Wilson's single brought Phillips across home plate. Chastain scored again in the seventh, helping the team win the game by a final score of 9-6 to split the doubleheader.

Sneed led with three RBIs while Wilson and Phillips each had two RBIs. Massengale had a RBI. Isabella Jenkins got the pitching win while Phillips picked up the save.

The win moved the team's record to 1-2 overall. The schedule brings the Lady Bulldogs back to Athens for their home opener on Saturday. The team will host Columbia International University in their conference opener beginning at 1:00 p.m.