Lady Cats Split with UTS

MCKENZIE, Tenn. –After two tight games and wins to open the season against UHSP, the Bethel Lady Wildcats played host to visiting Tennessee Southern Tuesday in McKenzie. The games were tight again but featured higher scoring affairs.

Iin game one, the Lady Cats took a 3-0 lead with three runs in the first. Miranda Carnell scored on an error. Maria Murdaugh followed with a two-run homer.

Tennessee Southern scored a single run in the third and took a 6-3 lead with five runs in the fourth. UTS added to their margin with two runs in the fifth.

The Cats tied the game at 8-8 with an explosive inning of their own, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Briley Auvenshine slugged a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 8-5. Emma Johnson drove in a run which was followed by a two-run single by Carnell which fueled the comeback.

UTS took a 9-8 lead scoring on a fielder's choice in the top of the sixth.

A lead-off walk by Murdaugh, followed by a walk to Auvenshine, put runners at first and second with no one out in the bottom of sixth. Kinsley Caruthers singled to load the bases. After a force out at home, Shelbe Sisk singled to tie the game at 9-9. With runners in scoring position, the Lady Cats failed to score again in the inning, and the squads went to the seventh tied at 9-9.

After Kaylie McKinley retired the side in the top pf the seventh, the Cats saw Kirsten Eversole double to lead off the bottom of the inning. Jada Wynn entered the game as a pinch-runner for Eversole. With one out, Murdaugh doubled to give the Cats a 10-9 exhilarating victory.

Tennessee Southern outhit Bethel 15-13 in the game.

McKinley picked up the win for the Lady Wildcats.

In the nightcap, the Lady Cats plated four runs in the bottom of the first. Auvenshine doubled in a run and scored later on a passed ball. Caruthers doubled in a run and Eversole had an RBI single.

UTS scored three runs in the third, two in the fourth and a single run in the fifth to grab a 6-4 lead.

The Lady Cats put the first two runners on base in the bottom od the seventh but could not score and fell 6-4.

Bethel is 3-1 while UTS left McKenzie at 7-1.