NAPLES, Fla. - The Bethany College softball team opened the 2025 season with a non-conference sweep of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Friday on their first day of the Gene Cusic Classic.
GAME ONE: BETHANY 5, RIT 3
Fifth-year Josie Wise struck out 11, and wiggled out of trouble in the seventh inning, as the Bison opened the year with the 5-3 victory.
The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, putting the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on first. However, one of the program's most prolific hurler recorded a strikeout and induced a flyout to secure the victory.
Senior Brooke Marland gave the Bison its first lead of the game with a two-RBI single in the fourth, but RIT answered with a pair of runs in the sixth.
Freshman Olivia Kidd broke the tie with an RBI triple, scoring graduate Morgan Huey, in the bottom of the sixth. She scored on a Markland single, and the senior shortstop scored on a throwing error following her steal of third. Markland finished 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Wise (1-0) allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits and a walk.
GAME TWO: BETHANY 12, RIT 8
Kidd swung a hot bat, going 4-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored, and five RBI as Bethany pounded out 14 hits in completing the sweep of RIT.
The Bison raced out to a 6-1 start thanks to three runs in the first and third innings. After the Tigers pulled to within one run, thanks to a three-run fourth, Bethany added three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to secure the victory.
Wise (2-0) earned the win in relief, allowing three runs on five hits in two innings. Sophomore Victoria Wehrberger allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits in three innings of work.
This article was written by Assistant Athletic Director for Communications, Jayson Ameer Rasheed. If you believe there are mistakes in information-- or have a separate thought relating to the event in the article -- please email ameer.rasheed@bethanywv.edu for any corrections/comments.
