Softball: Bison Fall to Golden Tornadoes in PAC Championship

Beaver Falls, Pa. – The Bethany College softball team traveled to Beaver Falls for day two of the PAC Tournament hosted by No.1 Geneva College. No.3 Bethany faced No. 1 Geneva to open the day. The Bison fell to the Golden Tornadoes, 3-0.

In game two, No.  3 Bethany faced No. 2 Westminster in the elimination game, with the winner moving to face the Golden Tornadoes in the Championship. The Bison battled the Titans, winning 1-0. The Green and White scored in the second inning when Ally McClelland scored on a throwing error. Freshman Josie Wise tossed a four hit shutout, striking out two, and walking one.

In the championship game, the Bison and Golden Tornadoes battled through the first two and half innings. Neither team reached base with 17 batters being retired. Geneva was able to get on base first in the third inning. The Golden Tornadoes took a 1-0 lead heading into the fourth. Jennifer Oberthur led the Bison off with a double in the fourth inning. Gabby Capaldi singled through the left side, advancing Oberthur. Tatum Barrass flew out to centerfield, allowing Oberthur to tag up and score. The Bison knotted the game at 1-1.

However in the bottom half of the inning, the Golden Tornadoes too momentum back, scoring two runs to take a 3-1 lead. The Bison continued to battle, scoring a run in the top of the fifth. Paige Allen doubled down the third base line, scoring Angela Brandel. Unfortunately for Bethany, Geneva added a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning and held the Bison scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings.

Freshman Josie Wise, juniors Jennifer Oberthur and Paige Allen made the All-Tournament team for the Bison. Wise finished the season with 169.1 innings pitched, 15 wins and one save. She fanned 116 batters and had an ERA of 2.27. Her innings pitched led the PAC and she sits second in the PAC in strikeouts.

Oberthur finished the season batting .406, with 52 hits, and 18 doubles. Oberthur earned five doubles in tournament play. She finished the season scoring 27 runs and drove in 24. Her 18 doubles tie the Single-Season record at Bethany College.

Allen finished the season batting .309, with 30 hits, 25 runs scored, 20 runs batted in, and four homeruns. Allen drove in three runs for the Bison in tournament play.

The Bison end the season finishing 21-17 (11-5 PAC). This season marks the first 20 win season since the 2015-16 season.