KCU Softball Loses to TMU in AAC Opener
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – It was all chalk as the top seeds all won in the first round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Softball Tournament on Wednesday.
The four-day tournament is being held at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn.
No. 4 seed Tennessee Wesleyan started the day with an 8-0 win over No. 5 seed Point, while top-seeded Reinhardt followed with a 2-0 win over No. 8 seed Milligan. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 seed Truett McConnell advanced with a 5-1 win over seventh-seeded Kentucky Christian, and No. 3 seed Brenau rallied for a 5-4 win over sixth-seeded Johnson.
TENNESSEE WESLEYAN 8, POINT 0
Tennessee Wesleyan wasted little time in seizing control of the game as it scored seven runs in the bottom of the first. The Bulldogs sent 12 batters to the plate, and Courtney Sneed had the big hit of the inning with a two-run single up the middle.
Meanwhile, Cheyenne Strong took care of business in the circle, striking out 11 in five innings of work. She allowed four hits and walked none.
Mackenzie Baldwin also drove in two runs, finishing 1-for-3, while Loyrn Sherwood went 3-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored.
REINHARDT 2, MILLIGAN 0
It was a classic pitchers' duel, but a defensive gaffe led to the only runs of the game as Reinhardt advanced in the winners' bracket with a 2-0 victory.
Kylie Freije led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, and then Kyra Lightner reached on an error and Taylor Wade singled to load the bases with no outs. Reinhardt followed that with a sac fly and a bunt single to push two runs across.
Whitney Shepherd finished off the job in the circle. The junior hurler allowed only two hits and one walk in picking up the win.
Erin Forgety pitched with for Milligan, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk in six innings of work.
TRUETT MCCONNELL 5, KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN 1
A four-run third inning was all Truett McConnell needed as it dispatched Kentucky Christian 5-1.
A pair of errors allowed Truett McConnell to extend the third inning with Cassie Boatright capping the rally off with a two-run home run.
The Bears added a run in the fifth, while the Knights scratched out a run in the sixth to make the final 5-1.
Jenna O'Brien went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Truett McConnell. In the circle, Kyleigh Sanders picked up the complete-game win, fanning seven in the process.
BRENAU 5, JOHNSON 4
After both teams scored a run in the first, Maddie Webber broke the deadlock with a two-run home run down the right-field line, giving Johnson a 3-1 advantage.
In the sixth, Brenau cut the margin to one on a Carley Cox RBI double. Riley later came through with a two-run double to send Brenau ahead for the first time in the game at 4-3. Brenau added an insurance run for a two-run cushion going into the seventh.
That run proved important as Johnson's Ella Hampton lined a two-out, RBI single to left to make it 5-4. An error then put two on with two out for the Royals, but a groundout back to the pitcher ended the game to seal the Brenau win.
Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, April 26
Game 1 - No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan (24-15) def. No. 5 Point (27-22), 8-0 (box)
Game 2 - No. 1 Reinhardt (32-9) def. No. 8 Milligan (20-13), 2-0 (box)
Game 3 - No. 2 Truett McConnell (34-11) def. No. 7 Kentucky Christian (26-23), 5-1 (box)
Game 4 - No. 3 Brenau (25-10) def. No. 6 Johnson (22-13), 5-4 (box)
Thursday, April 27
Game 5 - No. 5 Point (27-22) vs. No. 8 Milligan (20-13), 11 am
Game 6 - No. 7 Kentucky Christian (26-23) vs. No. 6 Johnson (22-13), 1 pm
Game 7 - No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan (24-15) vs. No. 1 Reinhardt (32-9), 3 pm
Game 8 - No. 2 Truett McConnell (34-11) vs. No. 3 Brenau (25-10), 5 pm
Friday, April 28
Game 9 - Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Loser, 11 am
Game 10 - Game 5 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser, 1 pm
Game 11 - Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 3 pm
Game 12 - Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 5 pm
Saturday, April 29
Game 13 - Game 11 Loser vs. Game 12 Winner, 11 am
Game 14 - Championship Game 1 - Game 11 Winner vs. Game 13 Winner, 1 pm
Game 15 - Championship Game 2 - Game 14 Winner vs. Game 14 Loser, 3 pm (if necessary)