BU Softball Wins the Gulf Coast Invitational Championship

Gulf Shores, AL - The Brenau University softball team dominated in the third, and final day of the Gulf Coast Invitational, beating #3 William Carey University (MS) and Lindsey Wilson College (KY), who had received votes in national rankings. As #18 Brenau University reached the semi-finals of the Gold Bracket, they were met by #3 William Carey (17-1). The Crusaders' 17 game winning streak was crushed by the Golden Tigers, courtesy of Morgan Smith's RBI sacrifice fly. Although the score may not demonstrate it, William Carey did not go quietly. In the 7th inning, the Crusaders had managed to get 2 runners on base, with 1 out remaining; however, the game ended once the Crusaders hit a fly to centerfield.

Against the Crusaders, Morgan Smith (Covington, GA) won the game with her single RBI. Tiffany Schandera (Columbus, GA) went 2-3 at the plate, with 2 singles. Both, Jana Bryant (Marietta, GA) and Jacqueline McWhorter (Columbus, GA), went 1-1, and earned a single. As for Anna Maness (Seagrove, NC), she threw 3 strikeouts from the mound.

For the championship game, Brenau University went to head to head against Lindsey Wilson College (18-2). The Blue Raiders were on a 12 game winning streak, chasing after their program's record for most consecutive wins (which they were shy by 3). Both teams were confident entering into this game; however, the Golden Tigers had played against the Blue Raiders earlier this season, in the Shorter College Invitational, and were the only team to beat them thus far. The tone of the game was calm until the top of the 4th when the first run was scored by Brenau. The Blue Raiders answered back with a home run in the bottom of the 5th, tying the score 1-1. The score remained the same until the game went into extra innings. In the 7th inning, the Golden Tigers broke away from their opponents earning 3 runs. In the 8th inning, officials applied the international tie breaker, by starting a runner on 2nd base. Lindsey Wilson responded once again, by scoring 3 more runs, which brought the game score to 4-4. It was not until the top of the 10th, when Brenau scored the final run of the game, due to an error made by Lindsey Wilson's outfielder. The Blue Raiders attempted to gain momentum, but dj vu took place when a fly ball to centerfield allowed Brenau University to win the game, 5-4, and clutch the championship title!

The Golden Tigers played an impressive game, which included Maness' 9 steadfast strikeouts. Ellen Black (Toccoa, GA) went 1-4, earned a 2 run homer, and 3 RBIs. McWhorter and Shepherd both got 2 hits, earning 2 singles, while Schandera and Bryant each went 1-4 at the plate, with a single. Furthermore, Smith earned a solid hit, following with a single and a RBI.

The softball team's record is now 16-2. They will be back in action Thursday, March 17th, for a double header against Wesleyan College.