Softball Splits Two with Middle Georgia

The Brenau softball team lost the opening game against Middle Georgia State College, but rallied to win the second game in Gainesville on Friday.

The Golden Tigers ran into trouble in the second inning after Middle Georgia loaded the bases, but first basemen Katie Cole snagged a line drive and touched first base for an inning-ending double play.

In the top of the fourth, the Golden Tigers ran into to trouble again as the Knights hit three straight singles with two outs to load the bases. Middle Georgia's Ashley Cavender then hit a shallow fly ball to left field to score two runs and take a 2-0 lead.

After a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth, the Knights' Macie Weeks was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with no outs. However, pitcher Madison Gossett battled back to allow no runs and escape the inning unscathed.

In the bottom of the fifth, Middle Georgia pitcher Alyssa Amerson hit two batters to put two on with only one out. Kelsey Payne then hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score Cheyenne Marsh to cut the deficit to 2-1. However, the Golden Tigers were unable to rally and lost by the final score of 2-1.

Gossett pitched a complete game, allowing only two earned runs to take the loss.

In game two, the Knights scored first on a three-run home run in the top of the third for a 3-0 lead.

The Golden Tigers finally got the offense started in the bottom of the third as Victoria Fontana beat out an infield grounder, then Landon Farrow followed with a single up the middle. After Marsh walked to load the bases, Elizabeth Schneider singled to drive in the first Brenau run.

In the bottom of the fourth, Savannah Moore led off the inning with a double to right-center. Madison Lacy followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Marsh opened the inning by reaching on an infield error by the Knights' second baseman. Mackenzie Oliver bunted and reached on a throwing error at first, then advanced to second, which allowed Marsh to score and tie the game 3-3.

The Knights responded in the top of the sixth as the Golden Tigers allowed the first two batters to reach on an error and a walk. Cavender then drove in the go-ahead run on a single to left-center for a 4-3 lead.

Brenau responded again in the bottom of the sixth as Fontana and Farrow hit back-to-back singles and then advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Marsh then drove in Fontana on a fielder's choice to tie the game 4-4. Farrow then scored on the second wild pitch of the inning to give the Golden Tigers a 5-4 win.

Willis pitched all seven innings to earn her twelfth win of the year.

Brenau (32-16, 12-11 SSAC) finishes the regular season with a rematch with Middle Georgia in Cochran on Saturday at 1 pm.