The Bethany College softball team secured the best start in school history as the Bison opened Presidents' Athletic Conference action with a pair of run-ruled victories over Franciscan Friday.  

GAME ONE: BETHANY 11, FRANCISCAN 5 

Senior Haley Eyler capped an eight-run fourth inning with a three-run bomb as Bethany secured the victory. Eight of the first nine batters reached in the pivotal game-deciding inning.  

The duo of graduates Destiny Goodnight and Morgan Huey caused havoc at the top of the order, going 7-of-8 with three runs scored and three RBI. They helped the Bison to the early lead as Goodnight singled, stole second, and scored on a Huey single in the bottom of the first.  

Bethany tallied two runs in the third inning on a two-run double by freshman Olivia Kidd. 

Goodnight finished 4-of-4 with three runs scored and a stolen base, while Huey was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. As a team, Bethany recorded 16 hits with every starter getting at least one hit.  

Fifth-year Josie Wise (8-0) allowed five runs, two earned, on eight hits over seven innings with 13 strikeouts.  

GAME TWO: BETHANY 11, FRANCISCAN 3 

Bethany scored in four of five innings, including four runs in the fifth, to secure the run-ruled victory and doubleheader sweep. For the second straight game, every starter tallied at least one hit in the win.  

Kidd, the league leader in RBI, went 4-for-4 with three runs scored, a double, a stolen base, and three RBI. Freshman Caitlin O'Farrell tied a career-high with three hits, going 3-for-3 with her first career double and a run scored.  

Goodnight and Huey were both 2-for-4 with an RBI as Goodnight scored twice and Huey three times. Huey picked up a double and stolen base, while Goodnight had a triple and a stolen base. 

After the Barons took the lead with a run in the top of the first, Bethany quickly responded with three in the bottom portion of the frame. Franciscan pulled to with one in the third, but the Bison added an insurance run before blowing the doors off the game with three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth.  

Sophomore Victoria Wehrberger (3-0) allowed three runs on six hits over three innings with a strikeout. Wise earned her first save of the season with two innings on one-hit relief. 

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES 

• Goodnight is 11 of her last 14, including a string of nine consecutive hits. She has 10 multi-hit games this season, including four straight. 

• Eyler has a home run in the first game of the last two doubleheaders. 

• O'Farrell has three straight multi-hit games.  

Bethany (14-0 overall, 2-0 PAC) welcomes Capital to the Bethany Softball Complex 3 p.m. Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader.