Softball loses the twin bill in AAC conference opener to #8 Tennessee Wesleyan

WEST POINT, Ga. (March 1, 2023) – The Point University softball team played their first AAC doubleheader of the 2023 season at home against #8 Tennessee Wesleyan and got swept. The would lose game one, 7-1 and game two, 9-5 (8 innings).

Game 1 – 7-1 LOSS

Both teams would start game one scoreless for the first three innings. The Skyhawks would get a great throw to the plate by Devon Foster to catcher Allie Davis to stop the scoring threat of the Bulldogs in the top of the second. Another defensive stand when the Skyhawks would get a 1-3-2 double play to end the top of the third to keep the Bulldogs for the third inning. The Bulldogs would score four runs in the top of the fourth and that would come to be all they would need for victory. The Skyhawks would get an RBI double over the Bulldogs left fielder from Gabrielle Riley to make it a 4-1 game. The Bulldogs would add one run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth and hold on for the 7-1 AAC conference victory in game one.

In the Circle

Ashlynn Hamm would start the game and would get relieved in the fourth inning by Mary Michael Burnham. After Burnham gives up three runs off of four hits in only 0.2 innings of work, the Skyhawks would go back to Hamm. The Skyhawks starter would finish game one going 6.1 innings, giving up four earned runs, nine hits, while allowing two walks and striking out two. Hamm would take the loss in game one.

Game 2 – 9-5 LOSS (8 innings)

The Skyhawks would lose a heart breaker in game two of the doubleheader 9-5 in extra innings. The Skyhawks would fall behind 3-0 after the first three innings. The Skyhawks would score four runs in the bottom of the fourth starting when Taylor Knight would hit an RBI single that would score Brianna Plocharcyk to make it 3-1. Wellsley Henderson would reach on a fielder's choice with both Taylor Knight and Haley Lyner to tie the game up at 3-3. Kayla Wyatt would later hit an RBI sacrifice fly to center field that would score Wellsley Henderson to give the Skyhawks a 4-3 lead. The Skyhawks would add another run in the bottom of the fifth when Taylor Knight would hit a sacrifice fly to right field that would score Alexus Griffin to make it 5-3. The Bulldogs would tie the ballgame up in the top of the seventh on a two RBI double to left field to make it 5-5. The Skyhawks would have all three Skyhawks batter's strikeout to end the seventh. The Bulldogs would take a 9-5 lead during the top of the eighth inning. Unfortunately, the Skyhawks wouldn't be able to answer in the bottom of the eighth and would drop game two, 9-5.

In the Circle

Katelyn Jiles would pitch all the way until the top of the eighth when the lead-off batter in the inning for the Bulldogs would reach first base on a single. Jiles would give way to Chloe Mitcham who would finish the eighth inning, allowing three runs on one hit, walking two batters and allowing two earned runs. Jiles would take the loss in game two with her seven inning performance, allowing six runs with four earned on twelve hits, walking two and striking out three batters.

Next softball game:

The softball team will be back in action this Saturday, March 4 when they welcome Columbia (SC) in for an AAC conference doubleheader. First pitch of game one scheduled for a 2:00 P.M. start.