LAURINBURG, N.C. (Mar. 22, 2021) – For the fifth Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader in a row, the No. 24 Truett McConnell University softball team came out on top with a sweep. The Lady Bears run ruled St. Andrews University 21-2 in game one, and turned around to shutout again in game 4-0, which put TMU at 17-5, 10-0 AAC on the season, while the Knights fell to 4-14, 3-9 AAC.
 
GAME ONE 21-2 | 5 INNINGS
The Lady Bears got off to a dominating start gaining an eight-run advantage right off the bat in the first. Mattie brooks drove in Sabrina Pestana Aguiar on a double to deep right-center to put TMU up on the board first (1-0). Mikayla Sullen's hit by pitch allowed Sara Sullivan to score another (2-0). Brooks scored TMU's third run on a SAU defensive error (3-0), and Katherine Kozlowski scored another on Lauren Barrett's single to shallow left (4-0). Another Lady Bear single by Alicia Price drove home Sullens (5-0) and another defensive SAU error, wild pitch and passed ball allowed three more runs for TMU (8-0).
 
After Bethany Hyde struck out three back-to-back batters in the bottom half of the first, Price doubled down the left field line to score two more runs for the Lady Bears (10-0). The Knights were capable of scoring two runs in the second (10-2), but the game proved to already be out of reach. TMU scored seven more runs in the third and four more in the fifth to clinch their first win of the day by the mercy rule.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Overall, the Lady Bears tallied 13 hits to SAU's two. TMU was individually led by Briley Lawson and Price who each went 3-for-4 at the plate. Brooks followed with two hits. Price led with three RBIs, while Sullivan, Lawson, Sullens and Ellie Abner followed with two apiece. The Lady Bears recorded a total of four doubles, which were hit by Lawson, Brooks, Abner and Price.
 
Hyde recorded her eighth win of the season after pitching three innings of two hits, two runs, one walk and six strikeouts. Sophomore Ellie McCloy relieved for two innings, which included zero hits, zero runs, zero walks and two strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO 4-0
TMU scored first again right away on Brooks' sacrifice fly (1-0). After holding the Knights scoreless twice, Sullivan led off the third with a walk and eventually scored again for the Lady Bears on a SAU defensive error (2-0). After Brooks reached base on a single up the middle, Brooks ran home on a passed ball to give the Lady Bears a three-run advantage (3-0). Barrett led off the fourth with a single of her own and eventually capped off TMU's scoring on Sullivan's batted ball to short (4-0). Neither team was capable of scoring the rest of the way, which ultimately resulted in a final score of 4-0 and secured TMU's fifth consecutive conference sweep.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Once again, the Lady Bears outshined the Knights offensively. TMU recorded a total of five hits, while SAU only had one. Kennington led the Lady Bears going 1-for-2, while Barrett, Brooks and Price each went 1-for-3. Lawson added a hit, while Sullivan led with two runs and one RBI. Brooks and Abner had one RBI apiece.
 
Hobbs earned her ninth win of the season after tossing a complete game of one hit, zero runs, one walk and five strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Bears are back on the road for two back-to-back AAC doubleheaders. TMU will be at Tennessee Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Mar. 24, at 3:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m., and at Columbia International on Saturday, Mar. 27, at 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m.