Brenau University Remains Undefeated in the SSAC

On Friday, #6 Brenau University went head-to-head against conference rival, Brewton-Parker College, who is receiving votes at the national level. The Barons (25-8) were hoping to continue their crusade, and reign over the SSAC; however, the Golden Tigers (22-2) had a different plan in mind. This decisive match allowed the Golden Tigers to step out from the crowd, with a conference record of 6-0. As a result, Brenau is still in the close running for 1st place, in the SSAC, right along with Shorter University (4-0).

In the first game, of the double header, both the 1st and 2nd innings were tense. Neither team could manage to get a run, needless to say very few batters ever reached 1st base. In the 3rd inning, Brenau broke their silence, by gaining their first 2 runs. During the 4th inning, Brenau was determined to get another run on the board, and they jacked the score up to 3-0. Eventually Brenau started to steam roll past the Barons with their momentum, earning 2 more runs in the 5th, and another 2 runs in the 6th. As for the 7th inning, Brenau offered Brewton-Parker a golden opportunity, when they could not follow through with any more runs, but the Barons still could not find their way back around to home plate. The Golden Tigers overwhelmed the Lady Barons, with the final score 7-0.

Starting Brenau off on the right foot, Tiffany Schandera (Columbus, GA) went 2-4 at bat, earning a homerun, and 2 RBIs. However, Ellen Black (Toccoa, GA) was not far behind her, going 1-3 at the plate, with a homerun, and 2 RBIs. Jenny Shepherd (Martinez, GA) made contact with 2 hits, getting a double, a single and 1 RBI. As for Jacqueline McWhorter, she went 1-2 at bat, earning a single and a RBI, and Morgan Smith (Covington, GA) went 1-3, with a double, and a RBI. Kristina Reynolds (Bogart, GA) made 2 hits, coupled with 2 singles, and both Katie Bolin (Danielsville, GA) and Jana Bryant (Marietta, GA) earned 1 hit and a single. Pitching from the mound, Anna Maness (Seagrove, NC) threw 8 strikeouts.

In regards to the second game, it was clear that the Golden Tigers were not going to waste any time. Brenau posted 3 straignt runs on the board, in the 1st inning alone. In the 2nd inning, they added 2 more runs, obtaining a lead 5-0. At the top of the 3rd, the Barons decided that they would not leave the field without a fight. Brewton-Parker pulled out 2 runs, however, Brenau answered back forcefully, with 4. In the 4th inning, the Golden Tigers were well aware that the Barons were trying to get back into the game, but Brenau refused them the opportunity when they got 5 runs, as opposed to Brewton-Parker's 3 runs. Although neither team let up, in the 5th inning, no batter made a run in the last inning. The final score, for the second game, of the doubleheader was 14-5.

Smith played big at plate, earning 2 hits, a homerun, a single, and 4 RBIs. Schandera went 4-4 while at bat, with a single, double, triple, and 2 RBIs. Both, Katie Bolin and Sally Duggan (Huntsville, AL) got 2 hits and a RBI; Bolin went further to hit a homerun, and Duggan also earned a single. As for McWhorter and Bryant, they each received 1 hit at bat, earning a single and 1 RBI. Shepherd came in strong, both on the mound and at the plate; she threw 2 strikeouts, and went 4-4 at bat, with 4 singles, and 2 RBIs. Black followed in a dual role, striking out 2 batters, while connecting in 1 hit, with a double, with 2 RBIs. Maness was right alongside Shepherd and Black; she threw 2 strikeouts, as well.

After a huge conference win, such as this, the Golden Tigers are eagerly awaiting their next match up against another conference opponent, Southern Wesleyan University. The double header is set for 5pm on Tuesday, March 29th, at Brenau University's home field.