Brenau Softball Sweeps #2 AUM
The Brenau softball team used a dominant pitching performance to sweep #2 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) University on Saturday in Montgomery.
Freshman Jessica Rathje pitched two masterful complete game shutouts to defeat the defending NAIA National Champions,1-0 and 5-0.
In the top of the first inning of game one, sophomore Kelsey Payne tripled in the first at-bat of the game and then scored when the Warhawks misplayed a Lexi Cash hit for the only run of the game.
The Warhawks threatened in the second inning with a runner on third and two outs. However Rathje coaxed a popup from Paige Nielson to end the inning.
The single run was all Rathje needed for the win as the freshman scattered four more hits throughout the game, allowing no runs and no walks while striking out five.
In game two, Rathje pitched another complete game while the Golden Tiger bats pounded out five runs in the third inning to win 5-0 to complete the sweep.
Landon Farrow and Payne each started off the third inning with singles, then Cash added a single of her own to score Farrow for a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Elizabeth Schneider was hit by a pitch, and then Courtney Kenney drove in Payne on a fielder's choice. Savannah Moore added another fielder's choice to score Cash, then Mason Garland topped off the big inning with a triple to right center that drove in Moore and Kinney to increase the score 5-0.
With a 5-0 lead in hand, Rathje again controlled the AUM bats to cruise to her second complete game shutout victory. The Glencoe, Alabama native threw 14 total innings on the afternoon while allowing no runs to earn her 14th and 15th wins of the year.
Entering the day, the #2 Auburn-Montgomery had previously won 35 of their last 38 games. The Warhawks (36-5 overall, 12-4 SSAC) had neither been previously shutout, nor swept, this season.
Brenau, who improved their record to 21-16 overall (7-5 SSAC), next hosts Bryan (Tenn.) College in a 4 pm doubleheader on April 13th