March 9 – CLERMONT, Fla. – The Bethany College softball team (2-4) split a double header on Monday, defeating West Field State, 6-5, in an extra-inning walkoff, before falling 6-0 to SUNY-Oneonta.
The Bison needed extra innings in the first game of the twin bill, defeating the Owls of Westfield State, 6-5, on a walkoff run by junior Ashlee Brill (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster).
The Owls got on the board first in the top of the third inning, striking for three runs in the frame. Westfield State scored their first run on a wild pitch, before starting pitcher Julia Sullivan brought in a pair with a single to give the Owls a 3-0 lead over the Bison.
Bethany would immediately respond in the home half of the third, also striking for three runs to tie the game at 3-3. Jessica Kusnierz (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) got the rally started with a single and was immediately chased home thanks to a double to centerfield by Kayla Kelly (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame). After a walk was issued to Deanna Mihalco (Patterson, N.Y./Brewster), the two runners were moved over on a groundout by Emili Garretson (Winfield, W. Va./Winfield).
With two out and two on, the Green & White received back-to-back RBI singles from Marissa Bosley (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia) and Sara Coss (Bowie, Md./Bishop McNamara). The former scored Kelly from third, while the latter chased home Mihalco to knot the game at three.
After both pitchers, the Owls' Sullivan, and the Bison's Kelsey Bish (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield), worked a scoreless fourth inning, Westfield State once again took the lead in the fifth. Emma Dunbar reached on a single to left and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. One batter later, the Owls were the benefactor of a Bison miscue which allowed Dunbar to score, giving Westfield State a 4-3 lead.
The Green & White would once again answer back in the bottom of the sixth inning. TJ Solomon (Beltsville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) collected the inning's first hit, roping a double to left field. Two batters later, Kusnierz came through with her third RBI of the season, singling home Solomon to tie the game at 4-4.
With neither team able to plate a runner in the seventh, the game went to extra innings where Westfield State would retake the lead. With a runner on third, the Owls' Elizabeth Kelly plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to give WSU a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.
The Bison responded in the frame, putting runners on first and third thanks to a bunt by Solomon. Brill then reached first on a bunt single to load the bases. Two batters later, Solomon scored the tying run after she raced home on a wild pitch. Two pitches later, Brill would take home as the ball once again found its way past the Owls' catcher, giving the Green & White the 6-5 walk-off winner.
Offensively in the first game, every Bison starter posted at least one hit with three collecting two hits, each. Mihalco finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Coss and Kusnierz each added two hits and a RBI. Bosley also drove in a run in the game, finishing the contest 1-for-4.
On the mound, Bish picked up her first win of the season, capturing a complete-game while allowing just two earned runs in eight innings of work. She also allowed just six hits while striking out five.
In the second game, the Bison gave up two early runs to SUNY-Oneonta and could never recover, eventually falling by the 6-0 score.
The Red Dragons picked up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, striking for four hits, all of which were singles. SUNY-Oneonta received back-to-back RBI base knocks from Katie O'Gorman and Brianna Rivera to jump out to the 2-0 lead. The Red Dragons would then add four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to round out the scoring.
Offensively for the Bison, Kusnierz reached base in three of her four at bats while Coss went 2-for-4 at the plate. Solomon, Brill and Kadie Kelly (Royal Oak, Md./St. Michaels) also each added a hit in the contest.
Sam Binkley (Arthur, Manitoba, Canada/St. James) got the start on the hill for the Bison, taking her first loss of the season as she went 4.2 innings while allowing six runs. Freshman Cassie Weiss (Avella, Pa./McGuffey) also saw action in relief, pitching 1.1 innings allowing just two hits while striking out one.
The Bison will be back in action on Tuesday, March 10 when they continue their spring break trip against St. Mary's College (Ind.) and Heidelberg. The game with St. Mary's is scheduled for 11 a.m., while the bout with Heidelberg is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
