Hattiesburg, Ms. | Continuing to make history, #23 ranked Truett McConnell (43-19 overall) squared off against #7 ranked Indiana Wesleyan (56-9 overall) this afternoon in the championship of the Opening Round of the 2018 NAIA Softball National Championship. This would be the Lady Bears' first matchup in program history against Indiana Wesleyan.

In order to advance to the 2018 NAIA Softball World Series in Clermont, Fl., which is a ten team double-elimination championship May 25 – May 31, the Lady Bears would need to defeat #7 Indiana Wesleyan twice.

Sophomore Bethany Hyde was named the starting pitcher this afternoon for the Lady Bears, after an impressive outing in day two of the opening round.

Indiana Wesleyan began the game aggressively with an RBI-triple to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of 1st.

In the top of the 4th, the Lady Bears' offense came alive. Beginning the inning, Milly Martinet hit a double off the left field wall. Freshman Katherine Kozlowski would be called in to pinch run for Martinet, and she would steal third base. With Kozlowski on third, Brie Levy hit an RBI-single that scored Kozlowski from third to tie the game.

Indiana Wesleyan took a 2-1 lead with an RBI-double in the bottom of the 5th. Another run came across in the same inning off an RBI-single to extend Indiana Wesleyan's lead to 3-1.

The Lady Bears entered the top of the 7th down 3-1 and desperate to keep their season alive. Karli Loudermilk began the inning with a walk, as she was hit by a pitch. Macy Dunaway would be called in to pinch run for Loudermilk. Two wild pitches resulted in moving Dunaway to third base with no outs. Sophomore Peyton Wilson remained patient at the plate and was walked to put runners on the corners for the Lady Bears. Jaden Morrison stepped to the plate and came up big for the Lady Bears with an RBI-single to score Dunaway from third to narrow Indiana Wesleyan's lead to 3-2. A ground out moved runners to second and third base, bringing Sara Sullivan to bat. She would be walked, loading the bases for Milly Martinet. A rare play was seen, as Martinet fouled out to Indiana Wesleyan's first baseman but the first baseman would catch the pop up and move out of play. Because the first baseman moved out of play, it resulted in Peyton Wilson being moved up from third to score the game-tying run.

The defense of the Lady Bears held off Indiana Wesleyan in the bottom of the 7th, as they moved into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, a pair of singles from Reba Jones and Brie Levy put runners on first and second base, and Sarah Horne loaded the bases with another single. Peyton Wilson, the sophomore from Buford, GA, capped off the Lady Bears comeback with a single that scored two runs, as the Lady Bears took a 5-3 lead.
The Lady Bears would go on to win the game by a final score of 5-3.

With the win, the Lady Bears will have approximately a thirty-minute break between games, as they will face off against #7 ranked Indiana Wesleyan again for a trip to the 2018 NAIA Softball World Series. Live stream and live stats will be available.


Tournament Links:

Watch Live: CLICK HERE
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Opening Round Schedule and Results: CLICK HERE