Softball Drops Two Against St. Ambrose University

The #13 Brenau softball team dropped a pair of games against St. Ambrose (IA) University in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday in Gainesville.

In game one, the Bees produced five runs and twelve hits off starter Caroline Mitchell to cruise to a 5-0 win. St. Ambrose starter Ashley Yattoni held the Golden Tiger offense to only three hits, while Christina Pembrook pitched two innings in relief to help the visitors take game one.

In the second game, the Bees again jumped out to a 3-2 lead as the Golden Tigers struggled to find consistency at the plate. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Brenau bats answered as Lexi Cash tripled to right-center field to start the rally. The Bees' third baseman Lexi Carlston misplayed a grounder by Brenau's Autumn Conaway that allowed Cash to score to tie the game at 3-3.

After Kelsey Payne singled to center, then advanced on a throwing error, Mason Garland doubled to left-center to drive in the run and give the Golden Tigers a 4-3 lead.

Brenau took the lead into the top of the seventh until the Bees' Madelyn Thompson hit a blooper to shallow left field to score two runs to regain the lead 5-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, both Karly Smith and Savannah Moore reached base, but St. Ambrose pitcher Katlyn Pica-Johnson struck out Sarah Peery to end the comeback.

Cash went 3-4 in the second game, while Payne added three hits and two RBIs. Garland added two hits and two RBIs and Smith chipped in two hits.

Starter Jessica Rathje pitched five innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs, while Kaleigh Sullivan allowed two runs in two innings of relief.

Brenau (11-8 overall) opens Appalachian Athletic Conference play against St. Andrews (NC) University (14-12 overall, 2-4 AAC) on Friday at 2 pm at Ernest Ledford Grindle Park in Gainesville.