Softball Defeats Reinhardt; Advances to AAC Title Game

The Brenau softball team used three late runs to defeat Reinhardt (Ga.) University 8-5 on Friday to advance to the finals of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament in Kingsport, Tenn.

After battling to a 5-5 tie through seven innings, the Brenau bats pulled through in the top of the eighth as the squad scored three runs on three hits to close out the game.

In the top of the eighth, Reinhardt pitcher Maddie Szalewski hit Faith Grooms , then allowed her to advance to second on a wild pitch. After Lexi Cash's grounder advanced Grooms to third, Szalewski threw her second wild pitch of the inning to score Grooms to make the score 6-5. Autumn Conaway then singled up the middle, and then advanced to second on another wild pitch.

After Savannah Moore walked to put runners on first and third for the Golden Tigers, Shelton Kendrix hit a single down the left field line to score Conaway and increase the lead to 7-5. Karly Smith then finished off the rally with the third hit of the inning to score Moore and give Brenau an 8-5 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, pitcher Jessica Rathje struck out two Eagles batters to help her squad ensure a spot in Saturday's championship game.

Brenau (28-18) awaits their opponent for Saturday's championship game as Reinhardt, Montreat and top-seed Truett McConnell battle out the remainder game in the loser's bracket. Brenau needs only one victory tomorrow to clinch the AAC tournament championship by virtue of being undefeated through the tournament.

This is the second consecutive championship appearance for the Golden Tigers, which won the 2017 Southern States Athletic Conference tournament last season.