Softball Splits on Opening Day in Orange Beach

ORANGE BEACH, Ala.  – The Bethel Lady Wildcats split their two games on the opening day of the Gulf Coast Invitational Friday in Orange Beach. The Cats beat Baker University 10-6 in their morning game but fell 3-1 to (RV) Webber International later in the day in an International Tie Breaker affair.  

The victory over Baker was a total team effort. After seeing Baker open with a three-run first inning, the Cats score two runs in the bottom of the inning. Bethel added five in the second and two in the third and went on to win 10-6.

The Wildcats pounded out ten hits in the game. Melanie Alexander continued her hot hitting with two hits, two RBI's and two runs scored. Brittney Minor had two hits and scored twice. Alexa Thrasher scored twice and drove in two runs. Kayla Gillespie  drove in two runs. Gillian Grahn had an RBI. Alexis Wheeler and Maria Murdaugh each scored twice for the Cats. Madison Haught picked up the win.

The Webber International game was a different affair. The teams battled for seven scoreless innings. WIU scored three in the eighth while Bethel scored a single run in the inning, falling 3-1.  Maria Murdaugh had the lone RBI for the Cats. Maddie Locke pitched seven great innings but suffered the hard luck loss.  The Cats were outhit 7-3 in the game.

 Bethel finished the day at 9-3 on the season. 

Saturday, the Cats play Mobile (RV) at 1:30 p.m. Bethel will square off at 5:30 p.m. against No. 25 Houston-Victoria.

The final day on Sunday will see Bethel take on No. 16 Columbia (Mo.) at 11:15 a.m. The Cats wrap up their play in the event at 1:30 p.m. versus Louisiana Christian. 

There will be no live stats of the games.

Live video links, if available will be posted on the softball athletic page at www.bethelathletics.com.

Watch for recaps of the games each day which will also be posted on the Bethel athletics website.