April 11 - GREENVILLE, Pa. – It was a tale of two games for the Bison softball team against Thiel College on Saturday afternoon. A pitchers dual highlighted game one of the doubleheader as the Tomcats defeated the Bison 1-0. The Bethany offense then came alive in game two, defeating the Tomcats 13-2 in five innings.
In game one, Bethany's Kelsey Bish (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) and Thiel's Amanda Callahan took center stage, as the two pitchers held the teams to one run combined in the contest. The single run was captured by the Tomcats in the home half of the fourth inning. Junior Madison Cheek singled home A.J. Corradi in the fourth, putting Thiel up 1-0. That score would stand through remainder of the contest as Thiel walked away with game one.
Offensively, Jessica Kusnierz (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) and Kayla Kelly (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) proved to be tough outs in the contest, as the one and two hitters for the Green & White combined to go 5-for-6 at the plate.
Despite taking the loss in the circle, Bish put together another quality start, allowing just one earned run and seven hits while striking out three batters over the course of the game.
In game two, the Green & White found their offense, striking for 13 runs on 13 hits to capture the second contest, 13-2.
The Bison wasted no time in game two to get on the scoreboard, striking for three runs in the top of the first inning. Ashlee Brill (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) reached base with an infield single, and was moved to second on a single to center by Kelly. After Brill stole third, Deanna Mihalco (Patterson, N.Y./Brewster) cleared the bases with a double to right center. An ensuing error on the relay throw by the Tomcat second baseman also allowed Mihalco to come all the way around and score on the play, giving the Green & White a 3-0 lead after one.
Two innings after the Tomcats cut the lead to 3-2, the Bison put together their highest scoring inning of the season, posting 10 runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Bison batted around in the frame, sending 14 batters to the plate while collecting nine hits. Both TJ Solomon (Beltsville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) and Ashlee Brill captured two hits in the frame to help lead the way.
Solomon opened the inning with a double to center field, and was moved to third on a bunt single from Kadie Kelly (Royal Oak, Md./St. Michael's). Brill then brought Solomon home on an infield single, giving the Bison a 4-2 lead. Kayla Kelly then posted a RBI on a suicide squeeze before Mihalco roped a two-RBI single to extend the advantage to 7-2. RBI from Emili Garretson (Winfield, W.Va./Winfield) and Marissa Bosley (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia) then ballooned the lead to 9-2, before Solomon drove in two RBI with a single to center, scoring Bosley and Sarah Coss (Bowie, Md./Bishop McNamara). Brill then finished off the inning with a 2 RBI single, scoring Kusnierz and Solomon to round out the scoring at 13-2.
Senior Kiersten Conwell (Washington, Pa./Chartiers Houston) then shut the door on the Tomcats, striking out two batters in a perfect fifth inning to give the Bison the 11-run victory. Conwell improved her record to 3-1 on the season, putting together a complete-game, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out four.
Offensively, eight Bison totaled a hit in the game, with six different players posting at least one RBI. Brill finished the contest with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Mihalco, Kayla Kelly and Solomon all tallied two hits, while Mihalco finished the game with three RBI.
Bethany will be back in action on Sunday, April 12 as they host a non-conference doubleheader with Pitt Greensburg. The two-game set with the Bobcats is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
