Kingsport, TN | The Lady Bears played #8 seeded Montreat College in Round 1 of the Appalachian Athletic Conference Softball Tournament today in Kingsport, TN. Coming into the game, the Lady Bears held the number one seed.

The Appalachian Athletic Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year, Karley Hobbs, was called into the game early in the top of 1st, after Montreat took a 3-0 lead. Hobbs would get the Lady Bears out of the inning as they looked to respond to an early surge from the Caveliers. 

In the bottom of the 1st, senior Reba Jones hit a single to left field, which would send Sara Sullivan home from second base.

Later on in the bottom of the 3rd, senior Milly Martinet sent a two-run home run over the right field fence for her 14th home run of the season. Martinet's home run tied the game at 3-3. 

Montreat would tack on one run in the top of the 4th inning to take back the lead at 4-3.

A productive 4th inning was seen from the Lady Bears in response to Montreat's taking of the lead. With the bases load, Sara Sullivan stayed strong in the batter's box and was hit by a pitch, sending Katherine Kozlowski home to tie the game. Junior Kaitlynn Hay then scored on wild throw to give the Lady Bears the lead. 

The Lady Bear's offense continued to stay hot in the bottom of the 5th, when Peyton Wilson singled to send Brie Levy home for a 6-4 lead.

Leading off the bottom of the 6th, Kaitlynn Hay sent a line drive to deep right field for a triple. She was then brought home off of Sara Sullivan's single. With Sullivan on first base, Martinet sent her third hit of the afternoon to deep left field for an 8-4 lead.

Montreat did not respond in the top of the 7th, as the Lady Bears took their first win in the conference tournament by a final score of 8-4. The Lady Bears will be back in action tomorrow, Thursday, April 26th, against #4 Reinhardt University (28-23 overall; 17-7 AAC) at 3 p.m.