Softball Falls in Opening Round of SSAC Tournament

In the opening round of the Southern States Athletic Conference softball tournament, the Brenau Golden Tigers lost to William Carey (Miss.) University 11-6 in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Thursday.

Brenau had an early opportunity in the top of the second inning when freshman Kelsey Payne (FR/Chattanooga, Tenn.) hit a leadoff single. After a Savannah Moore (FR/Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) sacrifice bunt and a Madison Lacy (FR/Trenton, Ga.) groundout advanced Payne to third base with two outs, the Golden Tigers were unable score as Sarah Peery (FR/Auburn, Ga.) struck out to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Crusaders scored the first run of the game as Lauren Russell hit a solo home run to make the score 1-0.

William Carey added to their lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three more runs to increase their lead to 4-0. The Crusaders struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning for a 5-0 lead.

The Golden Tigers' offense finally found a rhythm in the top of the sixth as Mackenzie Oliver (SO/Martin, Ga.) singled to start the rally. Elizabeth Schneider (JR/Smyrna, Ga.) followed with a single, and then Katie Cole flied out to advance Oliver to third. Payne then doubled to deep left-center to score Oliver to give Brenau their first run of the game.

Brenau added their second run of the inning as pinch runner Mason Garland (FR/Hoschton, Ga.) scored on Moore's fielder's choice to cut the score to 5-2. Lacy then added a two-run homer to score Payne and cut into the Crusader lead 5-4. After Peery singled to put the tying run on base, Landon Farrow (JR/Martin, Ga.) grounded out to end the inning.

The Crusaders answered the Golden Tiger rally with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take an 11-4 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Schneider singled home Cheyenne Marsh (JR/Richmond Hill, Ga.) to cut the lead to 11-5, then Payne hit a sacrifice fly to score Oliver to cut the lead 11-6. However, the Golden Tigers were unable to sustain their rally, falling 11-6.

Payne went 3-3 with an RBI to lead the Golden Tigers, while Oliver added three hits on the afternoon.

Taylor Causey (JR/Covington, Ga.) allowed four runs on six hits in three innings pitched to take the loss. Jenny Willis (SR/Auburn, Ga.) pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief, while Madison Gossett (FR/Trenton, Ga.) added 2/3 of an inning pitched.

Brenau next plays on Friday in the loser's bracket at 10 am central against Bethel (Tenn.) University.