Softball Ends Season in the RSC Tournament
SOUTH CHARLESTON, Wv. – The Brescia University softball team reached the conference tournament for the first time in nine years. The #5 seeded Bearcats faced off against the #4 seed IU Southeast where they dropped the opening game, 13-7. The Bearcats were sent to the loser’s bracket in the double elimination format of the postseason and were to play #2 Shawnee State. BU fell to the Bears ending their tournament run, 9-4.
Game 1: Bearcats 7 IU Southeast 13
IUS took a commanding 7-0 lead through the first two innings as the Grenadiers jumped on the Bearcat pitching. A solo home run by Emma Kate Elrod cut into the deficit as the Bearcats looked to rally back. A four-run fifth inning by the BU offense showed life in this postseason opener. A double by Katy Fisher scored Isabelle Hayes as Madison McDaniel scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Elrod added another run with her single to center field. The Bearcats were able to get within one of the Grenadier lead in the sixth on back-to-back singles. Unfortunately, IUS added five runs in the sixth inning to take the game one win.
Game 2: Bearcats 4 Shawnee State 9
The Bearcats were sent to the elimination game after dropping the opening contest to IU Southeast as they battle with #2 Shawnee State. The Bears struck first in the first inning on a single to score two runs. Neither team scored until Shawnee State broke the silence with two more in the fourth and one run in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. BU finally woke up the bats in the sixth as Elrod hit a bases clearing triple to cut into the Bears deficit. Felicity Cunningham scored Elrod from third on her deep ground ball to the shortstop. Shawnee State held steady offensively as they sprinkled in four more runs in the sixth to win the game.
The Bearcats finish the season 22-28 and 17-19 in RSC play following the postseason drought.