March 29 – BETHANY, W. Va. – Despite having not played in just over two weeks, the Bethany College softball team did not miss a beat offensively, totaling five home runs and 30 runs in two wins over Chatham University on Sunday morning. The Green & White broke out for a 19-3 win in game one, before taking game two by an 11-1 score.
In game one, 11 different Bison notched a hit, while eight separate players tallied at least one RBI in Bethany's 19-3, five-inning win.
Bethany started the game a bit rusty, as Chatham opened the contest by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning off of starting pitcher Kelsey Bish (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield). However, the Bison would respond with 17 runs in the next two innings.
In their first at bats since the team's spring break trip to Clermont, Fla., the Bison posted eight runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kayla Kelly (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) got Bethany going, posting a triple with one out in the frame. Two batters later, Sarah Coss (Bowie, Md./Bishop McNamara) brought her home for the Bison's first run of the contest.
Along with Kelly's triple, the Bison totaled three more extra-base hits in the inning. T.J. Solomon (Beltsville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) knocked in a pair with a RBI double, and was then chased in by a double from Marissa Bosley (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia). Two batters later, Jessica Kusnierz (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) crushed a three-run home run into left-center field to put the Bison up by an 8-3 score.
Bethany would out-do their production in the first inning with their at bats in the second frame, as the Green & White would capture nine more runs in the home half of the second, all with two outs. This time, Kadie Kelly (Royal Oak, Md./St. Michaels) led off the inning with a double. Three batters later, the Bison found themselves with the bases loaded and Kayla Kelly once again up to bat. Kelly posted a two-RBI single, scoring Kadie Kelly and Ashlee Brill (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) to make the score 10-3. The next batter was Deanna Mihalco (Patterson, N.Y./Brewster), who notched her first home run of the season, cranking a three-run blast to right-center, blowing the game wide open at 13-3.
The Bison would continue their barrage in the second inning, as Solomon would add her third RBI of the contest. After Coss scored on a wild pitch and Solomon scored on an error, Kadie Kelly brought the inning full circle, posting a RBI triple for the inning's final run, ending the scoring at 17-3.
The Green & White would add two more runs in the third inning to round out the scoring in the contest. After a single by Jasmine Fuqua (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and a double by Mihalco, Alex Grumski (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) totaled the first RBI of her career, roping a single up the middle to plate both runners and finish the scoring at 19-3.
Offensively in the first game, five different players registered a multi-hit game, while five Bison also notched a multi-RBI performance. Kusnierz and Mihalco led the way, with each posting a three-run blast in the contest. Mihalco also reached base in every at bat, going 2-for-2, adding a double and a walk to her home run. Kayla Kelly posted three hits in the game, coming just a home run shy of the cycle while driving in two runs. Solomon tied a career-high with three RBI, finishing 1-for-3 at the dish.
Coss finished the first game with three hits, including two doubles, while Bosley and Kadie Kelly each also grabbed two hits in the win. The 19 runs by the team marked the most scored by the Bison since a 23-run performance against Penn State Fayette on March 24, 2014.
In game two, the Bison offense backed a solid pitching performance from senior Keirsten Conwell (Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston), posting 11 runs to come away with the 11-1 victory.
Bethany wasted no time in the first inning as Kusnierz led off the game with a double. After and error and a walk loaded the bases with no out, Emili Garretson (Winfield, W.Va./Winfield) brought home Kusnierz with a sacrifice fly. Coss then grounded into a field choice, scoring Kayla Kelly to put the Bison up 2-0.
After Chatham cut the Bethany lead to 2-1 in the top of the second inning, the Green & White would respond, receiving four extra-base hits en route to a six run frame.
The Green & White wasted little time getting into the scoring column in the inning as Bosley, the inning's first batter, took a 2-2 count over the right field fence for a solo home run. Kadie Kelly then made it back-to-back homers, when she put one over the left field fence to extend the lead to 4-1. The home runs were the first of the season for both Bosley and Kelly.
After Brill was hit by a pitch, Kuznierz brought her home from first with a RBI double. That was then immediately followed by a RBI triple from Kayla Kelly. Kelly then scored on an error, before Solomon drove home Mihalco for the inning's sixth run, ballooning the Bethany lead to 8-1.
The final nail in the coffin would come in the bottom of the third inning, when the Bison struck for three more runs. With one on and one out, Kayla Kelly posted the fifth home run of the day for the Bison, scoring Kusnierz to put Bethany up 10-1. The final run of the day would be driven in by Solomon as she singled in Garretson to round out the scoring at 11-1.
Offensively in game two, Kusnierz, Kayla Kelly and Solomon all totaled two hits, while Kelly posted three RBI and Solomon a pair.
On the mound, Conwell was terrific, setting down half of the batters she faced via strikeout. Conwell threw a complete-game, setting down nine Cougars on strikes while facing three more than the minimum as the game was shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.
In the two game span, the Bison bats were absolutely on fire, as the Green & White peppered the outfield with extra-base hits all day long. In the two games combined, Bethany posted 17 extra base hits, including five home runs, three triples and nine doubles.
The Green & White will be back in action on Thursday, April 2 when they travel to Grove City, Pa. for a conference double header with Grove City College. The contest is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start.
