Softball Sweeps UPIKE in Conference Doubleheader
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – With temperatures lingering in the mid to high thirties, the Bethel Wildcats played host to the UPIKE Bears Saturday afternoon at the Kahlden Complex in McKenzie. It was the conference openers for both teams.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game one. UPIKE's Alyssa Franklin drove in two runs with a double in the first. The Lady Cats tied the game with a two-run fifth. Alexis Wheeler scored on a UPIKE error. Melanie Alexander then tied the game with an RBI single.
In the top of the seventh, the Bears scored to take a 3-2 lead. Bethel came back in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the inning. Senior Alexis Wheeler socked a solo shot to right center to tie the game. Melanie Alexander then drove in the winning run with an RBI double with Leah Beasley scoring to give the Cats a 4-3 victory. Maddie Lock went the distance picking up the win. Bethel outhit the Bears 7-4.
Game two saw the Bears take a 1-0 lead on an error by Bethel in the top of the first. Despite the football type weather, the Cat found hot bats scoring two runs in the third, three in the fourth and four in the fifth to win 9-4.
Wheeler hit another home run and drove in two runs. Kalani Kuroda and Gillian Grahn also homered. Alexander drove in two runs while Kennedy Gillespie, Madison White and Alexa Thrasher joined Kuroda and Wheeler with single RBI's. Bethel outhit the Kentucky visitors 11-17. Madison Haught picked up the Bethel victory.
Bethel moved to 6-2 and 2-0. UPIKE dropped to 3-5 and 0-2.
The squads conclude their weekend series Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
Live stats:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2021-22/boxscores/20220227_r313.xml
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