Bearcats Split with Cross Town Rival, Kentucky Wesleyan

OWENSBORO, KY – The Brescia University softball team met up with their cross-town rival, DII Kentucky Wesleyan College. A matchup that has been imbedded in history the past 20 years; the Lady Bearcats are starting to shrink the Panther's 17-13 win/lose record against the DII powerhouse. Last night, the Panthers came to our house where BU got the split in the doubleheader. The Bearcats couldn't get the bats going in the first game as the Panthers struck first with a 6-1 win. Brescia bounced back in game two grabbing a run-rule victory over KWC to win game two, 10-2 in five innings.  

Game one: Panthers 6 Bearcats 1 

The Bearcat's starting pitcher, Hannah Hailey, would struggle against the Panther's lineup as walks killed BU to start the game. Senior, Raini Gerometta, would hit the circle as she got the Bearcats out of the inning with a fly ball and a ground out. A three run first and third inning were all the runs that the Panthers could muster up for the game as Gerometta kept KWC quiet for the rest of the game. Elizabeth Richey would get the fourth inning rally going for the Bearcats as she drew a walk for BU's first baserunner of the night. Katy Fisher dropped down a sacrifice bunt to push Richey over to second base as Taylor Farrer singled to center field to put Richey 60 feet away from home plate. Micah Goeppner reached first on an error by the third baseman as all runners were safe with a run scored.  

Unfortunately, that would be the only run the Bearcats would get for game one as they took the loss, 6-1. Hailey got the loss in the circle to extend her record to 0-3 on the mound. Richey went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and a stolen base while Farrer went 2-for-3.  

Game two: Bearcats 10 Panthers 2 (5-innings) 

Every Bearcat touched a base in game two as the bats woke up just in time for game two. The Panther's pitching staff struggled in the exact same way as the Bearcats did in game one. Hit by pitches and walks gave way for the Bearcat's three run first inning without a single hit. The Panther's pitching change gave the Bearcats some trouble as they adjusted to the new arm. KWC started to make things interesting in the third as back-to-back doubles pushed two runs across the plate. The Bearcats got one of the two runs back as a double into left center off the bat of Kaylyn Sowders started the inning. Maddie Norton got her first collegiate hit as a Bearcat as she lined a ball into center field. Norton then took second on the dangerous throw home to put BU runners at second and third. The Panthers would walk the bases loaded with Courtney Peyton up to bat. Peyton would reach on an error by the third baseman as a run scores for BU.  

A scoreless inning for both teams in the fourth took us to the fifth where the bats for the Bearcats finally exploded. A double from Micah Goeppner would burn the KWC left fielder for her first hit of the game. With a runner on second, Norton came up clutch again with another single and an advancement on the throw home put runners on second and third yet again. Berlyn Uken loaded the bases on her bunt single to the third baseman. Courtney Peyton reached on a fielder's choice to send the runners station to station with no outs. The pitching struggles continued for the Panthers as a wild pitch and a passed ball gave them three extra runs for a 7-2 lead. Richey called game on her single to center field to secure the Bearcats first win of the season by run rule.  

Savannah Jones pitched a complete game giving up just five hits and two runs for her first win on the mound. Every Bearcat in the lineup touched base and earned a hit on the day for a complete offensive domination.  

Next up, the Lady Bearcats begin conference play against WVU Tech this weekend with dates and times pending due to incoming weather. Stay tuned and watch out for our social media and website posts for those upcoming changes.