COLUMBUS, Ga. (Feb. 26, 2022) - The Truett McConnell University softball team showed out on day two of the NFCA Classic. Game one saw a big win over No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan University (8-3) and game two proved successful for the Lady Bears after clinching a 9-inning win over RV Taylor University (5-4).

GAME 1 | 8-3
Indiana Wesleyan struck first in the bottom of the first with a two run homer over the left field fence, leaving the Lady Bears to work from behind. It was not until the top of third that TMU loaded the bases, offering a perfect opportunity for a Mikayla Sullens RBI single, a Justine Kennington double to left field and a Lexi Simonton two RBI single to make the score 5-2. IWU responded in the bottom of the third to decrease the lead, but the game was put out of reach in the top of the seventh when a Sullens single sparked the inning which saw two more RBIs from quality at bats by the Lady Bears (8-3). 

LEADERS
Sullens led the way going 2-3 at the plate, with one run and one RBI. B. Lawson went 2-4 at the plate with one RBI, followed by Rachel Morgan who went 2-5 with one RBI and one run. Simonton went 1-2 with two RBIs and two walks, while Brooks recorded a single hit with two runs and one RBI. Anna Thomas had one hit and one run, whiel Kenningotn had one hit, one run, two RBIs and two walks. 

Pitcher Kyleigh Sanders secured the win, after pitching 4.0 innings and recording two strikeouts, three runs and two walks. Ellie McCloy earned the save after pitching 3.0 innings and recording two strikeouts, one walk, zero runs and zero hits. 

GAME 2 | 5-4 (9-Innings)
Taylor hit the board with an unearned run in the top of the second inning, while proceeding to add two more runs in the top of the third (0-3). The bottom of the third saw the Lady Bears aggressive on offense, capable of scoring Sullens and Kennington after an RBI single from Brooks. Gipson followed with an RBI double to right field to make the score 4-3. Both teams were scoreless until Taylor gained speed int the top of the seventh to send the game into extra innings (4-4). The eighth inning saw no change in score, but a quality TMU offense proved enough in the bottom of the ninth as a Kennington hit by pitch sent in the winning run from third (5-4). 

LEADERS
Brooks led the way going 1-3 at the plate, along with two RBIs, one run and one walk. Kennington and Gipson tallied one hit and RBI apiece, while B. Lawson, Morgan, Price and Isabelle Sullivan had one hit of their own. 

Pitcher Karley Hobbs earned the win after pitching all 9.0 innings and recorded eight strikeouts and one walk. 

UP NEXT
The Lady Bears will compete in the final day of the NFCA Classic Sunday, Fe. 27, where they will face No. 16 William Cary University at 9:00 a.m.