Bison earn sweep over Chatham

Steve Janik, Assistant Sports Information Director

BETHANY, W.Va. (April 4) - The Bethany College softball team swept Chatham 10-1 in game one and 5-1 in the nightcap of a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) double-dip.

With the wins, Bethany improves to 10-12 overall and 4-0 in the PAC, while Chatham drops to 3-14 overall and 0-4 in the league. 

Game 1: Bethany 10, Chatham 1

Bethany got on the board three times in the first frame, highlighted by a two RBI single by sophmore Francesca Capaldi (Steubenville, Ohio/Catholic Central) to take the early lead.

Their following at-bat, the Bison brought 11 batters to the plate en route to scoring five runs to take the 8-0 lead after two. Sophomore Emily Folk (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) started the inning off with a double to deep left field. After a bunt single and several fielder's choice plays, the Bison had the bases loaded, when freshman Sammie Weiss (Avella, Pa./McGuffey) was hit by a pitch to bring the first run home. 

After Bethany added another run via wild pitch, junior Aubrey Baehr (Evans City, Pa./Seneca Valley) roped a single up the middle for their third run of the inning. An error in the Cougar infield allowed another run to cross before Capaldi added another RBI on a single to the right side.

Chatham was able to add a run in their third at-bat. A walk and a single put two runners on for the Cougars. An attempted sacrifice bunt led to an error by the Bison that allowed a run to score from second but they went no further.

The Bison went scoreless in the third before adding two in the bottom of the fourth put them up nine. Freshman Casey Hite (Bentleyville, Pa./Bentworth) finished the game off the in the circle after entering in the fourth for senior starting pitcher Cassie Weiss (Avella, Pa./McGuffey). Hite did her job, throwing two spotless innings, while striking out three of the six hitters she faced.

Capaldi paced the offense going 2-for-2 with 3 RBI. Freshman Erica Amoroso (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) collected multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Weiss and Baehr also drove in a run for the Bison.

Cassie Weiss started the game and earned the win after tossing the first three innings. She allowed a run (unearned) on two hits, while striking out three.

Game 2: Bethany 5, Chatham 1

The night portion of the twin bill began with little offensive pressure from either team. It was until the bottom of the third inning that the Bison got on the board. With two down, Sammie Weiss singled to left field. Baehr stepped up and roped a triple over the right fielder's head allowing Weiss to score from first and plate their first run of the game.

Their next time up, The Green and White increased their lead to 4-0 by playing small-ball. Senior Sarah Coss (Bowie, Md./Bishop McNamara) led things off with a walk and stole second base. After an Ashley Narigon (Washington, Pa./McGuffey) single put runners on the corners, freshman Kaitlyn Mills (New Lexington, Ohio/Crooksville) kept the inning going with a single that plated Coss. Junior Jazz Fuqua (Washington, Pa./Trinity) reached on a bunt to load the bases, before a sac fly allowed Narigon to score. The Bison added another run during the next batter on a wild pitch, making the score 5-1 after five innings.

Junior Sam Binkley (Kenilworth, Ontario, Canada/St. James) relieved the game two starter Hite on the mound in the fifth inning and shut the door down from there.

Baehr led the way in game two, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Coss, Mills, and Fuqua all drove in runs for Bethany.

Hite went the first four innings in the circle and allowed no runs on three hits, while fanning one to earn her first-collegiate win. Binkley finished the final three frames, allowing one run on one hit, while also striking out four to collect a save.

The Bison are back on the field on Saturday, April 8 when they head to Grove City for a PAC doubleheader at 3:30 p.m.