FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Bethany College softball team swept the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in a non-conference doubleheader by final scores of 5-0 and 16-5 to open the 2026 season and the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic at the Lee County Sports Complex

After serving as an assistant coach for the past two seasons, head coach Lexi Buck wasted no time picking up her first win as the Bison's head coach after Bethany (2-0) shut out Saint Joseph (0-2) in her first career game at the helm of the Bison softball program. The victory marks the first of many as Coach Buck joins the ranks of some of the greatest coaches in NCAA Division III history who coached the Bison softball program: one of the most storied softball programs in the PAC. 

Game 1
Scoring Plays

• Bottom 2nd - Sophomore left fielder Amber Dedmon (Canton, Ohio/Canton South) drove in the first Bison run of the year with an RBI double
• Bottom 2nd - Sophomore right-hander Trinity Edge (Franklin, Pa.) hit an RBI triple for back-to-back extra base hits for Bethany
• Bottom 2nd - Senior All-PAC shortstop Brooke Markland (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) capped off a three-run second with a double to the gap
• Bottom 6th - Markland's two-run double added insurance runs for the Bison in part of her three-RBI game

In the Circle

• Edge had a big Green and White debut by pitching a complete game shutout as she struck out 12 Blue Jays and allowed only five hits through seven innings

Game 2
Scoring Plays

• Bottom 2nd - Sophomore Academic All-PAC right fielder Bella Juozapaitis (Tecumseh, Mich.) drew the bases-loaded walk to put Bethany on the board
• Bottom 2nd - Edge also drew a four-pitch walk to bring another run home
• Bottom 2nd - All-PAC catcher Olivia Kidd (Akron, Ohio/Mogadore) singled with the bases loaded to extend the lead
• Bottom 2nd - Junior All-PAC third baseman Emma Jackson (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) drove in two with a single up the middle
• Bottom 2nd - Freshman first baseman Jenna Nolan (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) collected her first career RBI with a bases-loaded single
• Bottom 3rd - Edge advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a Blue Jay miscue
• Bottom 4th - Sophomore Academic All-PAC second baseman Caitlin O'Farrell (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) put the Bison up 8-1 with a base hit
• Bottom 6th - Sophomore Academic All-PAC designated player Molly Hitchen (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) walked with the bases loaded to open an eight-run sixth
• Bottom 6th - Dedmon hit a two-run single to center
• Bottom 6th - Hitchen came home on another Saint Joseph wild pitch
• Bottom 6th - Markland laid down the bunt as Dedmon scored on the squeeze
• Bottom 6th - Edge scored again on a wild pitch by the Blue Jays
• Bottom 6th - Junior utility player Shelby Thomas (Alma, W.Va./Tyler Consolidated) picked up her first RBI of the year with a base hit
• Bottom 6th - O'Farrell's sac fly closed the scoring on Day 1 of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic

In the Circle

• Junior Academic All-PAC right-hander Victoria Wehrberger (Sebastian, Fla./Sebastian River) also pitched a complete game where she struck out six and allowed only two earned runs on 10 hits

The Bison are back in action Sunday, March 8 as they travel to Naples, Florida to continue the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic by taking on Elms (Mass.) University and Alfred State (N.Y.) University in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 9 a.m. at North Collier Regional Park.