3/10/20

(CLEVELAND) – The No. 9 Truett McConnell University softball team swept Columbia International University (4-1, 1-0) on Monday afternoon at the TMU Softball Complex, which is the team’s second straight Appalachian Athletic Conference sweep and seventh straight win. The Lady Bears improved to 13-2, 4-0 AAC on the season, while the Rams fell to 10-16, 4-6 AAC.

GAME ONE 4-1

Following a scoreless first inning, freshman Sabrina Pestana Aguiar singled down the left field line to drive home senior Macey Dunaway in the bottom of the second (1-0). Pestana Aguiar went on to record another RBI in the bottom of the fourth when junior Kathrine Kozlowksi ran home on the ground out (2-0). CIU left two on base in the top of the fifth but senior Jaden Morrison responded sparking the bottom half of the inning with a bunt base hit. After freshman Justine Kennington’s single through the hole at second base moved Morrison over to third, fellow senior Sara Sullivan was responsible for the clutch squeeze play that scored Morrison to put TMU ahead by three (3-0). The bottom of the sixth saw the Lady Bears put up another run on Morrison’s sacrifice fly to deep center field (4-0). Although the Rams added their first run in the top of the seventh, it proved not enough as TMU clinched their first win of the day (4-1).

LEADERS

Morrison and Pastana Aguiar led the way going 2-for-3, while Pastana Aguiar led with two RBI’s. Kennington, Sullivan, Liz Bunton, Kozlowski, Sarah Wills and Natalie Miller added a hit apiece.

Bethany Hyde earned her seventh win of her junior season after throwing a complete game of five hits, one run, four walks and seven strikeouts.

GAME TWO 1-0

The first four innings saw neither team get more than one runner on base. However, the fifth inning saw CIU load up the bases on two outs but Karley Hobbs forced an infield popup in order to hold the Rams scoreless. Morrison kept hot leading off with a bunt base hit to spark the sixth inning for the Lady Bears. Sullivan drove in Morrison for the Lady Bears’ lone run of the game on a sacrifice fly to deep right field (1-0), which ultimately sealed the win.

LEADERS

Kennington led the offense going 2-for-3, while Morrison, Sullivan, Dunaway and Ellie Abner were responsible for TMU’s other four hits.

Hobbs, the junior All-American, claimed the win after throwing a complete shutout game of zero walks and three strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Lady Bears are on the road to Point University for another AAC doubleheader on Wednesday, March 11.