COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 18, 2023) - The Truett McConnell University softball team bounced back with a doubleheader sweep over Columbia International University in an Appalachian Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday. The Lady Bears put up 10 runs in both games, shutting down the Rams (10-0) in game one and finishing the sweep with a 10-5 victory in game two. TMU's record improves to 15-5 (8-0 AAC) while CIU drops to 10-16 (5-9 AAC).  

GAME 1 | 10-0 

TMU played lights out in the first game against CIU with 15 combined hits. The ball got rolling in the first inning when Grace Folds led off the game with a single through the 5-6 hole. Two batters later, Folds was brought home thanks to an RBI sacrifice fly from Kyndall Gipson to put the Lady Bears up 1-0. In the second inning, TMU's lineup exploded for five more runs, starting off with Cassie Boatright's solo home run to center field. The Lady Bears went on to load the bases when Justine Gorton hit an RBI single that scored Hailey Cronic. With ducks on the pond, Briley Lawson laced a three RBI double to clear the bases, making the score 6-0. The Lady Bears went on to score two more runs in the third and fourth inning, highlighted by Folds' RBI triple in the top of the third. Kyleigh Sanders remained sharp on the mound, allowing zero runs, while the Lady Bears secured the win with a score of 10-0.  

LEADERS 

Folds went 3-3 with three RBIs, while Briley Lawson added three RBIs of her own as she went 2-3. Gorton also had three hits and knocked in two separate runs against the Rams.  

Pitcher Kyleigh Sanders improved to 6-3 on the year with the win against the Rams, pitching four complete innings from the circle. The Cumming native didn't surrender a single run, giving up only three hits and struck out 10 batters. 

GAME 2 | 10-5 

Briley Lawson got the Lady Bears on the board in the top of the first inning with a solo home run over the center field wall. The fourth inning saw TMU add to their lead, taking advantage of a lead-off single from Lawson, along with fielding errors and passed balls to make it 3-0. In the last three innings, The Rams would get on the board and make an attempt at a comeback with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Lady Bears hammered home another seven runs, including four in the sixth inning, to pull ahead again and ultimately win by a final score of 10-5.  

LEADERS 

The Lady Bears had 14 hits, while Briley Lawson went 3-3 with three RBIs and one run. Folds and Gorton individually went 2-4 in the box, while Isabelle Sullivan and Mattie Brooks two RBIs apiece. 

Pitcher Kyndall Gipson improved to 6-2 on the year in her 4.2 innings of work, followed by Olivia Haag who entered in relief and didn't give up a hit in her 2.1 innings to finish the game.  

UP NEXT 

The Lady Bears will travel down the road to Gainesville, Ga. on Tuesday, March 21 where they face off against Brenau University in an AAC doubleheader.