Softball: Wise Throws One-Hitter; Offense Comes Alive in Sweep Over Thiel

BETHANY, W.Va. - The Bison claim their second Presidents Athletic Conference sweep of the 2024 season against the Thiel Tomcats. The Bison bats woke up scoring 17 runs between both games.

THE BASICS

Final Scores:

Game One: Bethany 8, Thiel 0 (six innings)

Game Two: Bethany 9, Thiel 4

Records:

• Thiel (10-16, 5-5 PAC)

• Bethany (19-6, 7-5 PAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE) 

• Bethany could afford to have an off game at the plate in game one due to Josie Wise dealing on the mound. The senior threw a complete game one hitter, racking up nine strikeouts along the way. The only hit given up was on a bunt single down the third base line. The only ball that was barreled was a line drive that came right back to the mount. Wise defended herself; being able to double up the runner on first in the process. This performance granted Wise her 10th victory of the season. 

• In reality, the Bison didn't have to do much at the plate. However they used the energy from Wise on the mound to get back on track with their bats. They dug out of a miniature team slump scoring eight runs in less than six full innings. 

• Bethany's first run of the game didn't come from a bat as Angela Brandel scored on a passed ball. Although the Bison were getting on base, they wouldn't earn an RBI until the fifth inning when Mary Marshall earned two of them. With two of the fastest runners in the PAC on second and third, Marshall's single into left was good enough to give the Bison a 3-0 lead. 

• The dagger came in the sixth when the Bison put up five runs to end the game early. Katelyn Ziems had two RBI on her pinch hit single. Elizabeth Shubert smoked a ball off of the right center fence for an RBI double. Morgan Huey walked it off on an RBI double. 

BISON LEADERS IN GAME ONE: 

• Wise earned her 10th win in her complete game shutout. 

• Marshall and Ziems both had two RBI. 

• Huey led game one with three hits. She was 3-4 with an RBI double, a stolen base, and a run scored. 

• Destiny Goodnight was 2-3 with a walk, two runs, and two stolen bases

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO): 

• The Bison transferred the energy in the bats from the end of game one into game two. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings of play. 

• Miriam Peterson knocked in Goodnight to get Bethany on the board in the first. 

• The second inning saw a two out rally by the Green and White. Huey continued her solid day at the plate with another RBI double. Peterson showed up with the bases loaded. She released some of the pressure with a single through the left side scoring two more. Brooke Markland put the same pitch in the same spot in the following at bat to score the Bison's fifth run. 

• Thiel was working at bats and starting to find their groove. After scoring three on a bases loaded single down the line, the Tomcats kept the game within reach entering the bottom of the sixth.

• The Bison just continued to hit. They extend their lead from 6-4 to 9-4 to give some insurance entering the final inning. 

• Ziems had a solid outing only giving up two earned runs through six innings. Her workload was getting high as she creeped close to 120 pitches on the day. Wise came in to ice the final inning and cement the sweep over the Thiel Tomcats. 

BISON LEADERS IN GAME TWO:

• Peterson had three hits, three RBI and a run scored. 

• Goodnight served her job at leadoff to a tee. She went a perfect 3-3 with a walk and three runs scored.

• Markland had a sneakily impressive line. She was a perfect 2-2 with a pair of RBI, a run scored, and a walk. She also had a productive sacrifice bunt which turned into a run. 

• Shubert had a multi-RBI game as well, going 2-4 with a double and two RBI. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

Bethany will host their senior day against The University of Olivet Comets on Sunday, April 14th (tomorrow). The game is scheduled to begin at noon. Senior day festivities will happen prior to first pitch.