Softball: Bison Don't Give Up an Earned Run; Split vs Saint Vincent

BETHANY, W.Va. - Fellow Presidents Athletic Conference member Saint Vincent came into town to kick off conference play. Despite not allowing an earned run in 14 innings played, the Bison split a doubleheader at home. 

THE BASICS

Final Scores:

Game One: Saint Vincent 1, Bethany 0

Game Two: Bethany 5, Saint Vincent 1

Records:

• Saint Vincent (10-6, 3-1)

• Bethany (13-2,1-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE) 

• The bats were pretty much silent from both teams. Josie Wise shut down the Bearcats through all seven innings. She allowed two hits, one walk, and not a single earned run in her complete game. Wise commanded the strike zone with 80% of her pitches being strikes. She only had three strikeouts, but the Bearcats were unable to barrel up any of Wise's pitches. 

• It took until the sixth inning to see a runner cross home. Ironically enough, the unearned run scored by Saint Vincent was on a dropped third strike. A two-out single and stolen base put a runner in scoring position with the meat of the Bearcat's order up. After Wise threw a breaking ball to get a swing and miss, the ball came loose and a throwing error to first allowed the runner on second to cruise all the way home. 

• The Bison had an opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of that same inning. Destiny Goodnight singled up the middle. She moved all the way to third after Morgan Huey's sacrifice bunt gave the Bearcats some trouble.

• At this point Bethany had two of the fastest base runners in the PAC on second and third with three outs to work with. Brooke Markland came up to the plate and hit a deep flyball into left center. A tremendous diving play shocked the stadium- and Goodnight as she already had crossed home by the time the ball came into the infield. The pitcher stepped off and appealed to catch Goodnight leaving the bag early. Instead of a tied game, the Bison received two outs on a double play. 

• Unable to rally and score, the Bison lost the first game of the day despite not giving up an earned run.

BISON LEADERS IN GAME ONE: 

• Wise pitched a complete game without an earned run while only giving up two hits, a walk, and earning three strikeouts.

• The Bison had three players combine for five hits: Goodnight (2), Mary Marshall (2), and Miriam Peterson.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO): 

• What plagued the Bison in game one helped them in game two. Defensive mistakes by Saint Vincent pushed the Bison to a 1-0 lead after the first. The center fielder's glove just did not close on a routine fly ball with two outs. Markland was moving on the crack of the bat with two outs which allowed her to score all the way from first base. 

• More unearned runs came in the fourth inning after a Bethany squeeze play. Two runners were in scoring position when Angela Brandel laid down a nice bunt. One run scored easily while a throwing error by the catcher allowed the other baserunner to cross home.

• The sixth inning saw the Bearcats score a run from an error. Huey gave the Bison some insurance runs. A double that pushed home two Bison in the bottom of the same inning gave a 5-1 lead to Bethany. 

• That gave pitcher Katelyn Ziems more than enough room to work on securing a win for the Bison. A similar outing to Wise the game prior, Ziems finished a complete game only allowing a single unearned run on five hits and two walks. 

BISON LEADERS IN GAME TWO:

• Ziems earned the win after an impressive stat-line.

• Huey's double was the only extra base hit on the day. That hit knocked in two runs.

• Brandel earned an RBI on her squeeze play. 

• Marshall continues to swing the bat well with two singles. She's had multi-hit games in five of the six games played since spring break. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Bison will have a quick turnaround playing Grove City tomorrow (March 29th). This Good Friday matchup will begin at 11am on the Bison's home field.