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Cumberland University

Kenzie France
1
Tennessee Wesleyan TWU 0-2
8
Winner Cumberland (TN) CU 5-0
Tennessee Wesleyan TWU
0-2
1
Final
8
Cumberland (TN) CU
5-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Tennessee Wesleyan TWU 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 9 2
Cumberland (TN) CU 1 0 2 0 5 0 X 8 13 0

W: Higgins, Kaitlin (3-0) L: M. Stott (0-2)

9
Winner Tennessee Wesleyan TWU 0-3
6
Cumberland (TN) CU 5-1
Winner
Tennessee Wesleyan TWU
0-3
9
Final
6
Cumberland (TN) CU
5-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Tennessee Wesleyan TWU 0 0 2 0 2 4 1 9 18 0
Cumberland (TN) CU 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 12 2

W: B. Phillips (1-0) L: Schrader, Steffani (0-1)

Next Game:

at Georgia Gwinnett College

2/24/2024 | 12:00 PM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 24 (Sat) / 12:00 PM
at Georgia Gwinnett College
History

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Tennessee Wesleyan

Lebanon, Tenn. - - The Cumberland softball team took on Tennessee Wesleyan University this afternoon in a doubleheader. The Phoenix took game one by a score of 8-1 and fell in a slugfest in game two, 9-6.

It took little time for the action to start, with Tennessee Wesleyan's one and two hole hitters reaching from a single. A fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases for the Bulldogs, but Kaitlin Higgins forced a ground ball to get a forceout at home and struck out the final batter of the inning.

Ashley Evans legged out an infield single to give the Phoenix a runner on with one out, and after a successful steal attempt, Mackenzie France drove her in with a single to the gap in right field.

The Bulldogs had something working with two runners on in the bottom of the second, but Evans went from scoring runs, to taking them away. Tennessee Wesleyan sent a single up the middle and the runner at second base attempted to take an extra bag, Evans however sent a perfect throw to home plate to tag the runner out and end the inning without any harm.

Cumberland made a similar rally of their own in the bottom of the frame, as Jacey Hatfield got the first Phoenix runner on base, reaching on an error. Gracie Arneman slapped a single next and Anna Lay dropped down a perfect bunt to load the bases.

It was all too little too late though as the rally had begun with two outs on the board already and a great defensive play from the Bulldog's shortstop kept the Phoenix from adding more runs.

Flipping the script on its head the following inning, TWU led off with a bomb to left field to bring the game level. Kaitlin Higgins steadied the ship for Cumberland though, allowing a single the next at-bat then recording three consecutive outs.

The Phoenix answered quickly though with a Sara Brogdon sac fly to score Abby Chappell and clever base running from Abbie Peach drew her a double steal for herself, and sent Kenzie France to home plate, taking a 3-1 lead into the fourth.

Both teams left a runner stranded in the fourth frame, making it a wash to go into the fifth.

Higgins was dominant in the top of the inning, forcing weak contact to every batter she saw, making it a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Keeping up the trend of early base runners, McKenzie France walked to start the inning and Karsyn France was hit by a pitch, putting two runners on with no outs. The new pitcher continued to struggle to find the zone, walking Sara Brogdon to load the bases.

After two force outs at home plate the Phoenix finally found a breakthrough, and the flood gates opened. Arnemann sent a ball down the first base line that Wesleyan could not corral, scoring two runs. 

Lay then dropped down another excellent bunt to score Jacey Hatfield and Cumberland still was not done scoring. Ashley Evans got a hold of a pitch, sending a two-run double into the left field gap, the Phoenix took an 8-1 lead into the sixth.

Neither team scored a run in sixth or the seventh innings and the score stood at 8-1, as the Phoenix took game one of the doubleheader in commanding fashion.

Game two picked up where the first left off, with all the momentum on the side of the Phoenix. The Bulldogs managed one runner in the first inning, five shy of the effort that Cumberland followed up with in the bottom of the frame.

Anna Lay led off with an infield single and stole two bases to threaten Wesleyan early. Kenzie France scored the first runs of the inning with a two-run single, and Karsyn France then sent her home with a single of her own, making the score 3-0. Brylee Bartley scored the final run of the inning, giving CU a strong early lead.

The second inning saw two hits between the teams, but was a shove into the top of the third.

Wesleyan rallied in the third, cutting the deficit in half with a well timed single to score one and keep the bases loaded. A fielder's choice allowed one more run to score and Carley Clinard sat down the final batter of the inning, making it 4-2 going into the bottom of the inning.

While Cumberland struggled to find their way back on base, the Bulldogs continued to find their rhythm. A sac fly and a single quickly put Wesleyan back in contention, adding two runs in the top of the fifth, putting all the momentum firmly on their side.

It didn't take long for the Bulldogs to add more runs, jumping on Cumberland mistakes. An early error and hit-by-pitch helped to load the bases and by the time the inning was over the Phoenix had surrendered five hits and four runs, but managed to force three stranded runners.

A walk and two singles loaded the bases for Cumberland Ashley Evans broke the game back open with a two-run double, to make it 8-6 for the Bulldogs. Smart pitching got Wesleyan out of the jam that they found themselves in, making for a tense last inning.

Extending their lead back out to three runs, the Bulldogs again jumped on a Phoenix defensive error and turned a stolen base attempt into a run scored, making the game 9-6.

Cumberland couldn't find any magic in the bottom of the inning and had to settle for a series split against Tennessee Wesleyan

The Phoenix travel south to take on Georgia Gwinnett this weekend. Game one of the doubleheader is set for noon on Saturday, February 24th.
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Players Mentioned

Anna Lay

#19 Anna Lay

OF
5' 6"
Freshman
Brylee Bartley

#28 Brylee Bartley

C
5' 8"
Freshman
Abbie Peach

#4 Abbie Peach

IF
5' 3"
Junior
Kenzie France

#14 Kenzie France

IF
5' 9"
Junior
Jacey Hatfield

#16 Jacey Hatfield

IF
5' 7"
Freshman
Kaitlin Higgins

#5 Kaitlin Higgins

RHP
5' 3"
Junior
Sara Brogdon

#25 Sara Brogdon

C/IF
5' 9"
Freshman
Abby Chappell

#1 Abby Chappell

UT
5' 5"
Freshman
Ashley Evans

#7 Ashley Evans

OF
5' 5"
Junior
Karsyn France

#15 Karsyn France

IF
5' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Anna Lay

#19 Anna Lay

5' 6"
Freshman
OF
Brylee Bartley

#28 Brylee Bartley

5' 8"
Freshman
C
Abbie Peach

#4 Abbie Peach

5' 3"
Junior
IF
Kenzie France

#14 Kenzie France

5' 9"
Junior
IF
Jacey Hatfield

#16 Jacey Hatfield

5' 7"
Freshman
IF
Kaitlin Higgins

#5 Kaitlin Higgins

5' 3"
Junior
RHP
Sara Brogdon

#25 Sara Brogdon

5' 9"
Freshman
C/IF
Abby Chappell

#1 Abby Chappell

5' 5"
Freshman
UT
Ashley Evans

#7 Ashley Evans

5' 5"
Junior
OF
Karsyn France

#15 Karsyn France

5' 6"
Freshman
IF