Softball Takes Two Against Faulkner
Clutch hitting and a strong pitching performance helped the Brenau softball team win two crucial Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) games over Faulkner (Ala.) University on Wednesday in Gainesville.
After getting down 6-3 during the first six innings of game one, the Golden Tigers rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
The momentum carried over into the bottom of the eighth as the squad scored two runs to win the game 8-6.
Home runs from Katie Cole, Cheyenne Marsh (JR/Richmond Hill, Ga.) and Kelsey Payne (FR/Chattanooga, Tenn.) helped lead the Brenau attack. Payne went 3-4 with 3 RBIs, while Cole added two hits and two RBIs
Jenny Willis (SR/Auburn, Ga.) (10-2) took the win as the senior outdueled the Eagles' Mattie Dodson to capture her 10th win of the season.
In game two, Madison Gossett (FR/Trenton, Ga.) threw seven strong innings and the Brenau bats stayed hot as the Golden Tigers cruised to an 8-1 win.
After scoring one run in the second inning, the offense pounded out six runs in the fourth for a 7-0 lead. Faulkner added a run in the top of the fifth, but the Eagles were unable to mount a comeback.
Payne continued her strong offensive day as the freshman went 3-4 with 3 RBIs. Cole went 2-3 with two RBIs, while Mackenzie Oliver (SO/Martin, Ga.) went 2-4 with a steal. Oliver's two total steals added to her conference-leading total of 33 for the season.
Gossett (13-8) pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits and one run to secure the win.
Brenau (27-11, 9-7 SSAC) next travels to play #2 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) University on Friday for a 2 pm eastern doubleheader.