CLEVELAND, Ga. (Mar. 20, 2021) – The No. 24 Truett McConnell University softball team extended their win streak to five after besting Kentucky Christian University in an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader, inside the TMU Softball Complex, with a 7-2 decision in game one and a shutout mercy rule in game two with a score of 8-0. The Lady Bears increased to a record of 15-5, 8-0 AAC, while KCU fell to a record of 2-8, 1-7 AAC.

GAME ONE 7-2 
TMU hit the ground running, scoring first in the bottom of the second when Mattie Brooks stole home, followed by a Mikayla Sullens single to score Kozlowski from third and an RBI single from Sara Sullivan to make the score 3-0. The Lady Bears tallied a single run in the bottom of the third as a ball in play from Alicia Price caused a KCU wild throw and gave Justine Kennington the opportunity to score from third (4-0). Pitcher Bethany Hyde showed her grit on defense as she earned seven straight strikeouts starting in the second and ending in the fourth inning, while also throwing a no hitter until the top of sixth. A late rally from KCU in the top of the seventh proved not enough as the home team earned three more runs, featuring a Sabrina Pestana Aguiar homerun over the center field fence, clinching the win with a final score of 7-2.

LEADERS
Sullivan led game one going 3-for-4 at the plate with a single run and RBI, followed by Pestana Aguiar who went 2-for-2 with an RBI and run of her own. Sullens went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Price went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI and Brooks had one hit, one RBI and one run. Kozlowski, Kennington and Anna Thomas added one hit apiece. 

Hyde recorded her seventh win, featuring 12 strikeouts, a career high, along with two hits, two runs and five walks.

GAME TWO 8-0 | 5 INNINGS
Game two saw the same speed from TMU with two runs scored in the bottom of the first, which began with a single to right from Lauren Barrett to score Sullivan from third and a Kozlowski single to left to score Briley Lawson (2-0). The bottom of the third saw the same success for the Lady Bears when Barrett ran home on a wild pitch and Price singled to left-center to send Kennington home (4-0). TMU's defense remained resilient, capable of keeping the Knights scoreless, including a Lady Bear double play. The game was concluded in the bottom of the fifth, when TMU added three more runs and secured the mercy rule win with a walk off RBI single from Lawson (8-0).

LEADERS
Barrett led the way going 3-for-3 with two runs and a single RBI, while Price also went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Kozlowski went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run, followed by Pestana Aguiar, Lawson, Sullens and Kennington who had one hit apiece.

Pitcher Karley Hobbs earned her seventh win, including zero runs scored, thee strikeouts and three hits.

UP NEXT 
The Lady Bears travel to St. Andrews College Monday, March 22, for an AAC doubleheader, with game one at 2:00 p.m. and game two at 4:00 p.m.