Kingsport, Tn. | The Truett McConnell Softball team played against #7 seeded Brenau University (28-18 overall; 14-10 AAC) today in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Championship, which ended up being a two-game series. The Lady Bears eliminated #4 seeded Reinhardt University earlier in the day. Coming into the championship game, Brenau had not lost a game since the tournament began, so the Lady Bears would have to beat Brenau twice in order to be crowned conference champs. 

The Lady Bears gave themselves an opportunity, handing Brenau their first loss of the conference tournament in the first game of the two-game set by a score of 8-1.

Entering the final game of the tournament, freshman sensation Karley Hobbs took the mound once again for the Lady Bears. Hobbs has been dominant throughout the tournament, starting in six out of the seven games for the Lady Bears.

Brenau would come out early and put one run on the board in the top of 1st. The Lady Bears looked to match Brenau in the bottom of the inning. Kaitlynn Hay reached first base on a bobbled ball by a Brenau fielder. She advanced to second base on Sara Sullivan's bunt, and she would advance to third off Milly Martinet's ground out. With Hay on third base, Reba Jones continued her hot streak of hitting and hit a single to send Hay home and tie the game at 1-1. 

The top of the 4th saw Brenau take the lead, as the Golden Tigers picked up a run off a sacrifice fly. 

The Lady Bears offense remained quiet, and Brenau would try to take advantage of it. In the top of the 6th, the Golden Tigers extended their lead with another run to go up 3-1. 

Emotions were high entering the bottom of the 7th, as the Lady Bears trailed 3-1 and they were three outs away from letting the AAC Conference Tournament Championship slip out of their hands. Reba Jones led the inning off with a single, bringing Brie Levy to the plate. Levy would then be hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second base. Katherine Kozlowski was called on to pinch run for Brie Levy. Karli Loudermilk found her way to the plate next in the lineup, and she would hit a sacrifice bunt that moved runners to second and third base. Wanting to continue to move base runners, Sarah Horne hit a sacrifice fly to right, which scored Jones from third. After advancing on the sacrifice fly to third, Kozlowski would score off a wild pitch to tie the game for the Lady Bears at 3-3 and force extra innings.

Hobbs stepped up big in the top of the 8th, holding off batters from reaching scoring position. The bottom of the 8th proved to be the deciding factor in this nail biter. Jaden Morrison led the inning off with a single. Sullivan placed a sacrifice bunt that allowed Morrison to get all the way around to third base with one out. Brenau decided to intentionally walk Milly Martinet, who would step into the batter's box after Sullivan. With one out and conference championship on the line, the senior from Newnan, GA., Reba Jones, hit a single she will never forget, as Morrison bolted across home plate for the Lady Bears to win their first Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Championship 4-3.

Not only did the win earn the Lady Bears their first conference tournament championship in program history, but also the win marks the Lady Bears' 40th win on the year. After the game, the Appalachian Athletic Conference announced the All-Tournament team, which included Truett McConnell's Kaley Hobbs, Milly Martinet, and Sara Sullivan. In addition to the three Lady Bears named, Reba Jones was also named to the All-Tournament Team and Tournament Most Valuable Player. 

"I'm so proud of this team of this team," said AAC Coach of the Year Jenni Shepard. "They showed grit to fight their way back after getting into the losers bracket. They were poised during tense moments and never faltered, but most importantly they knew what they wanted and made it happen. These girls are so deserving of this moment. They have represented TMU well all season, and their actions on and off the field have honored God on a daily basis. I give all thanks to Him for sending this amazing group of student-athletes to TMU and allowing me to do what I love on a daily basis. I am so thankful for my new assistant coach Dylan Reichenberg who has worked so hard this season, doing everything I asked of him. I couldn't be more thankful for Him allowing us to win seven games in the tournament, including five games in two days, to win the AAC conference title. I am so thankful for this team and so proud to be a Bear."