One thing that is normally accepted across the board in sports is when Senior Day comes, so does a chance that the home team will schedule an opponent in hopes of getting a better chance at a win.
Wednesday on Bryan Hill, the Bryan College Lady Lions Softball team took a shot at not just a team with an impressive season, but the 4th ranked team in the entire nation, Campbellsville University (Ky.).
One of only eight losses the Tigers have earned this season came today, Senior Day for the Lions, when Bryan responded after a 4-0 loss with a convincing 5-1 upset for a split in the twin bill.
Campbellsville moves their overall record to 44-8 as they wrapped up regular season play, while Bryan is now 26-20 overall with one conference doubleheader remaining to finish out the regular season.
Game 1
The Tiger’s Jacqueline Roof quickly set the mood as the day unfolded after leading off Campbellsville in the top of the first with a solo shot over the left field fence to give the Mid-South Conference team an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second frame, Campbellsville managed to put two runners on with two singles and two outs before Roof cleared the bases with a three-run blast to center for the final runs of the game as the Tigers held on for a 4-0 win.
Roof had an impressive performance, finishing 2-for-3 with all four RBIs and two runs scored along with two homeruns. Her other at-bat she was walked.
The Tiger’s Victoria Decker picked up the win, holding the Lions to two hits and no runs through seven innings.
Olivia Gore and Becca Zimmerman registered the only hits by Bryan. The loss was given to starting pitcher, Sarah Hundley, who tossed two innings and gave up four runs on five hits. Sydney West relieved for five remarkable innings as she held the No. 4 Tigers to three hits and no runs while striking out three.
Game 2
After a ceremony to recognize the Lady Lions seniors between games, the Bryan team took the field in game two and kept the Tigers off the board, managing to strike first for their first run of the day. Bryan began the second game with standout starter, Kaitie Sims, in the circle. The bats got hot early for the Lions as they loaded the bases after a wild throw during a hit by Gore, a bunt by Kim Borowski, and single by Lacye Walker. Zimmerman notched one of her few sacrifice fly’s in the contest to score Gore, giving Bryan an early 1-0 lead.
Campbellsville responded in the top of the second with one run coming off an RBI double, leveling the score 1-1, but it would be the only score the Tigers could muster.
The Lions regained a lead in the bottom of the third that they would hold onto for the rest of the game. Borowski led off for Bryan with a double, before advancing to scoring position at third by a single to left from Walker. Zimmerman followed with a back-to-back sac-fly, plating Borowski for the go-ahead run, 2-1.
Bryan extended their lead in the fourth when Leslie Nunnelly bunted and reached base, advanced to second on a stolen bag, made her way to third on a sac-bunt by Katelyn Bowen, and scored after Gore ripped an RBI single to left to make it 3-1.
The final two runs by Bryan came in the bottom of the fifth with help of Walker’s leadoff double. Mariam Wood landed a sac-bunt, which put Walker in scoring position at third. Zimmerman came through with another crucial hit, but this time she singled to score Walker for her game-high third RBI. Zimmerman took her turn at scoring a run when she advanced to second on a groundout by Ford and continued home after a wild throw following a hit by Kaleigh Riley that sailed into the Lions dugout to give Bryan a 5-1 edge. Sims prevented another runner from scoring for Campbellsville as she earned her 13th win of the season. She ended the game allowing only three hits and one run scored through a complete seven innings. Also, she managed to strikeout seven of the Tigers.
Borowski and Walker each finished 3-for-4 with one run and a double, respectively. Zimmerman led the team with three RBIs. Gore, Zimmerman, and Nunnelly each tallied one hit apiece in the game.
The Lady Lions have one last Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader remaining on the schedule before finishing regular season play. Bryan travels to Barbourville, Ky. to faceoff against conference opponent, Union College, on Friday (Apr. 22) with the first pitch slated for 2pm.