Softball Gains Split at Cumberland University

LEBANON, Tenn. – The Bethel Lady Wildcats and the Cumberland University Phoenix closed out their weekend series Saturday in Lebanon. Cumberland picked up a 9-3 win in game one. The Lady Cats bounced back with a 7-4 victory in the nightcap.

 Game one saw the Phoenix jump out to a 4-0 lead after three innings. Bethel's Miranda Carnell had an RBI in the fourth to make it 4-1. CU scored a run in the fifth to lead 5-1. Jada Wynn had an RBI double in the sixth to shave the Bethel deficit to 5-2. The Phoenix broke the game open with a four run sixth to stretch their margin to 9-2. Emma Johnson had a sacrifice fly in the sixth to pull the Wildcats to within 9-3. Cumberland outhit Bethel 13-8. Lauren Reimsnyder suffered the loss while Emily Cooper was the winner for CU.

CU took the early lead in game two with a run in the first inning. Maria Murdaugh had an RBI with a sacrifice fly in the second to tie the game. She followed that up with an RBI single in the fourth to give the Wildcats the lead. Madison Carey scored when Amber Osborne reached on a fielder's choice and Bethel grabbed a 3-1 lead after three and half innings. The Phoenix pushed across a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the Wildcat margin to 3-2. CU put two runs across in the fifth to regain the lead at 4-3 after five. Emma Johnson put the Cats ahead again with a two out three run double in the top of the sixth. Osborne drew a bases loaded walk in the seventh to give the Cats a 7-4 margin. The Wildcats would hold on to that margin to gain the split. Madison Locke went the distance to pick up the win. Bailey Griffith was the loser for the Phoenix.

Bethel finished the day at 20-16 overall and 10-8 in the MSC.

Cumberland is 20-14 and 9-9.

The second game loss was just the third home loss of the year for CU.

Bethel returns home to host UT Southern Friday at 2 p.m. The teams play a doubleheader Saturday at noon.

Live stats:

https://www.bethelathletics.com/sports/sball/2022-23/boxscores/20230421_y132.xml

Watch:

https://www.bethelathletics.com/watch