Eagles Claw Out Victory Over Bearcats

Wilmore, KY - The Asbury College Softball team came back after a tough 3-2 loss to Brescia in extra innings in game one to take game two 6-1.  The Eagles dropped the first game when the tying run was thrown out trying to go first to third on a base hit to center field.  Asbury bounced back as Carrie Wilderman pitched complete games in both contests to pick up her eighth win of the season in game two.

Asbury (14-11, 6-5) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning without hitting the ball out of the infield.  April Lancaster reached on a bunt hit then stole second and was sacrificed to third.  After a groundout, Kendall Ratchford reached on an error by the shortstop allowing Lancaster to tie the game.  The game headed to extra innings, in softball in extra innings the last out in the previous inning is placed on second base to begin each extra frame in an effort to speed the game up.  With the leading run already in scoring position Brescia capitalized as Asbury struggled.  Two hits, two runs, one error and one wild pitch on a strikeout were too much to over come as the Eagles dropped game one.  Ratchford, Mirranda Drury and Rebecca Baker all had two hits in game one.  Wilderman gave up only four hits and two earned runs while striking out six in the loss.

Game two saw Asbury take a 2-0 lead in the third inning then add three more in the fourth.  Brescia would score their lone run in the fifth, but the Eagles would answer right back in the bottom of the inning.  Emily Ethington had three hits in game two while Stephanie Wade and Rebecca Baker picked up two hits each.  Ethington drove in three runs as Amanda Hardman knocked in two with a double.  Wilderman again was outstanding in the circle, giving up only one run and striking out three in the complete game win.  On the day Wilderman pitched 15 innings, gave up 13 hits, four runs (only three earned), while walking only two and striking out nine.

Asbury will travel to Mountain State on Saturday for two more conference games.  Mountain State is currently 4-5 in the conference.  First pitch is set for 2pm in Beckley, West Virginia.