BETHANY, W. Va. -- The Thiel College softball team dropped their Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) double header 10-6 and 10-1 (5 inn.) to Bethany College Tuesday afternoon.
The Blue and Gold drop to 7-12 overall (1-6 PAC) as the Bison advance to 16-3.
Game 1: Thiel 6, Bethany 10
Looking to rally in the final frame, Thiel put traffic on the bases as
Mackenzie Herman (Greenville, Pa./Reynolds) singled,
Alaina Fedder (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield Area) added a hit, and
Ava Gilmore (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex Area) and
Makenna Oswalt (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) reached on a fielder's choice, but the Tomcats couldn't capitalize with runners on the bags.
Bethany created separation in the bottom of the sixth, turning a two-run game into a four-run deficit. The Bison stayed swinging in the fourth and sixth frame, adding five total runs off five hits and two walks.
In the sixth, Thiel stayed within striking distance, pushing their total to six runs as they continued to chip away offensively after falling behind early.
Thiel came out heavy on the bats, plating three runs in the top of the first. Key hits from Kylie Heid (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) and Kayley Risser (Reynoldsville, Pa./Dubois Central Catholic) and aggressive base running gave the Tomcats an early 3-0 advantage.
However, Bethany responded immediately with a four-run bottom half, using multiple extra-base hits to flip the lead and seize momentum for the remainder of the game.
Risser, Herman and Fedder added two hits to the afternoon, as Risser brought in three RBI's. Heid was walked twice and also grabbed a hit.
On the mound, Fedder pitched the first three innings with Herman pitching the final three.
Game 2: Thiel 1, Bethany 10 (5 in.)
After notching five runs in the bottom of the fourth and holding off the Tomcats to zero runs in the top of the fifth, the Bison pulled off the 10-1 run-rule victory.
The Blue and Gold scored their lone run of the game in the fourth frame after Herman reached on an error and was brought around the bases by Gilmore and Fedder.
Bethany struck first in the beginning innings with three in the first and two in the third to take a strong 5-0 lead early.
Madison Hufford (Cortland, Ohio/Mathews) had three singles on the day, and
Lily Merolillo (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge) pitched for two innings.
Thiel is back in action on Friday, Apr. 3 as they travel to Allegheny for a 3 p.m. double-header start time.
