COCHRAN, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2021) – The No. 9 Truett McConnell University softball team picked up their first sweep of the season on Wednesday afternoon in dominating fashion (7-1, 5-1) at Middle Georgia University. The Lady Bears improved to 2-2, 0-0 AAC on the year, while the Knights fell to 1-5, 0-0 SSA.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS
"It was real good to get two wins under our belt behind stellar pitching performances from Hyde and Hobbs, top notch defensive play, and executing offensively with runners on to score runs," Head Coach Jenni Shepard said.
 
GAME ONE 7-1 | SULLIVAN'S GRAND SLAM
After a scoreless first, the Knights got on the board first on a bunt base hit in the bottom of the second (0-1). However, Sara Sullivan scored the tying run at the top of the third on Briley Lawson's two-out double to right (1-1). Lawson singled at the top of the fifth to score the go-ahead run (2-1), but it was the top of the sixth that ultimately put the game out of reach for the Knights.
 
Katherine Kozlowski sparked the sixth inning with a single to center. Sullivan, however, sent Kozlowski and two others home with a grand slam over the left field fence on a 3-2 count to give TMU a five-run lead (6-1). Caroline Waters went on to round out the Lady Bears runs in the seventh scoring on a wild pitch (7-1).
 
LEADERS
Sullivan led with four RBIs going 2-for-5 with two runs. Lawson was perfect at the plate (3-for-3) with two RBIs. Sophomore Mattie Brooks, Kozlowski and Sullens all added a hit apiece to combine for a team total of five hits, in comparison to MGA's five.
 
Bethany Hyde picked up her first complete win of the season. Hyde allowed five hits, one earned run, two walks and recorded four strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO 5-1 | EXTRA INNINGS
Both teams remained scoreless until the Knights homered in the bottom of the sixth (0-1). Nonetheless, TMU rose to the occasion in the top of the seventh to make the score even on Alicia Price's bunt (1-1). Karley Hobbs, backed up by stellar defense, forced Middle Georgia's first batter to fly out and then struck out back-to-back batters to send the game into extra innings.
 
Moreover, Justine Kennington fueled the winning inning with a leadoff single to third and ran home for the go-ahead run on Brooks' batted ball (2-1). Lawson scored on an MGA wild throw (3-1), Brooks scored on a Sarah Wills single to center (4-1) and Kozlowksi ran home on Price's single through the hole at shortstop (5-1). With a four-run cushion heading into the bottom of the eighth, Hobbs once again struck out back-to-back batters for outs two and three to ultimately fasten the sweep.

LEADERS
Lawson went 2-for-3, including a double and walk, while Wills went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Price led with two RBIs and Kozlowski went 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Kennington and Brooks added a hit and run apiece. Brooks also had an RBI.

Hobbs recorded her first complete win of the season allowing eight hits, one earned run and two walks, while recording a single game career high of 12 strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Bears will look to travel to the University of South Carolina at Beaufort and Thomas University on Saturday, Feb. 20, and Sunday, Feb. 21, for two more nonconference doubleheaders. TMU's home opener is set for Thursday, Feb. 25, against Brewton-Parker College.