Softball Cats Can’t Hold Lead and fall to Campbellsville in MSC Tournament

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bethel Wildcats and the nationally ranked No. 21 Campbellsville Tigers met Saturday afternoon in an elimination game in the MSC Championships in Bowling Green.

Bethel led 5-0 but late inning runs propelled the Tigers to a 14-5 victory.

The fourth seeded Wildcats plated three runs in the top of the first. Leah Beasley had a lead-off double. Melanie Alexander followed with a walk. Emma Johnson doubled driving in Beasley. Alexander scored on a Tiger error. Gillian Grahn singled driving in Johnson.

No. 2 seeded Campbellsville put runners in scoring position at second and third in the bottom of the first, but Bethel starter Kaylie McKinley was able to get out of the inning unscathed and protect the 3-0 lead.

The Cats added another run in the third. Alexa Thrasher doubled with one out. Alexis Wheeler drove her in with a double of her own.

Bethel manufactured a run in the fourth. Maria Murdaugh singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on an Alexander fly out. She would score when Johnson grounded out. The Cats extended their lead to 5-0.

Campbellsville exploded for six runs in the fourth. Payton Blades homered to lead off the inning. The Tigers scored five more runs with the big blow coming off the bat of Lexi Miller who had a three run bases loaded triple.

The Tigers were not finished, adding six more runs in the fifth.

Down 12-5 in the sixth, the Wildcats loaded the bases but could not score.

Campbellsville added two more runs in the seventh and closed out the game winning by nine after six.

The Tigers outhit the Wildcats 15-10.

McKinley suffered the loss. Katy Chadwell picked up the win.

Bethel finished their season at 22-28. Campbellsville moved to 34-15 and advanced to meet UT Southern in another elimination game Saturday night.