Bryan Softball splits with Reinhardt

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Lions clawed their way to a narrow 3-2 victory that came down to the final innings, but in the nightcap the Eagles responded with an overwhelming 16-5 run-rule win that ended after five innings. The split improved Bryan to 7-9 in AAC play and 10-26 overall.(Photo:BryanAthletics)

Bryan wins 3-2, loses 16-5 in double header

April 2018

DAYTON, Tenn. – It was a tale of two entirely different contests on Tuesday when the Bryan College softball team hosted Reinhardt University (Ga.) in a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference games. In the opener of the doubleheader, the Lions clawed their way to a narrow 3-2 victory that came down to the final innings, but in the nightcap the Eagles responded with an overwhelming 16-5 run-rule win that ended after five innings. The split improved Bryan to 7-9 in AAC play and 10-26 overall, while Reinhardt moved their conference record to 10-4 and overall mark to 20-18.

Each team only tallied five hits apiece in game number one. Olivia Johnson kept the Eagles nearly flightless while pitching all seven innings for the Lions and allowing a mere five hits and pair of runs while walking two, bringing her record to 5-9 on the year.

Bryan was the first to answer when Courtney Bonaiuto reached base on a misplayed grounder before Hannah O’Shields crushed a two-run homerun over the left field fence, her team-best fourth homer of the season, in the bottom of the fourth to give the home team a 2-0 advantage.

After a quiet fifth, the Lions added on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth that would prove crucial. Heidi Smith connected on a leadoff single to right, advanced to second on Courtney Petty’s single to center, and then took advantage when the Eagles committed an error on Lindsey Dunn’s hit to grow the difference to 3-0.

Reinhardt kept Bryan on their toes in the top of the seventh as they attempted a comeback. A misplayed grounder and a walk allowed Eagles to take first and second with no outs. The next two outs came on fielder’s choices, but Reinhardt managed a two-run single before a pop out brought an end to the threat as Bryan prevailed 3-2.

O’Shields went 2-for-3 with a double, homerun, one run scored, and a team-high two runs batted in. The only other extra-base hit for the Lions was Ashley Brown’s triple. Others to get on the hit’s list were Smith and Petty with one apiece.

Another difference to game two was how quickly the first run was scored. Reinhardt jumped on the board in the top of the initial frame with a combination of a leadoff bunt and an RBI double to center to go ahead 1-0.

Bryan’s counter in the bottom of the first inning helped them secure their only lead of the contest. Bonaiuto sparked the rally with a single to short while she advanced to second on the play following a wild throw. Bonaiuto wasn’t on base long before Smith drove her in with a single to center. Next was O’Shields who singled, but Smith was thrown out that took away the promising run. It wouldn’t faze Kimberly McKernie though, as she took the first pitch thrown to her and sent it sailing into deep right to score O’Shields and take over 2-1.

The second inning came and went, and then it was all the Eagles as they left the Lions behind in the top of the third. Six hits and two errors later, Reinhardt wound up in front 8-2.

Bryan responded each time, but the hole created by Reinhardt proved too large to overcome. The Lions posted two runs in the bottom of the third as O’Shields was walked and then scored by McKernie’s double to center. A consecutive double, this time by Dunn, sent McKernie home to close the gap to 8-4.

Another explosive performance by Reinhardt in the top of the fourth ended all hope for Bryan as five hits that included a double, two errors, a passed ball, and walk resulted in the Eagles tacking on eight additional runs for a 16-4 advantage.

One last run for the Lions was scored in the bottom of the fourth inning when Marissa Murray led off with a single to right, advanced to second on Payton Kneier’s sacrifice fly, and then rounded third and come home on a Sydney Olander double for a 16-5 final.

A trio of pitchers entered the circle for the Lions, beginning with Dunn who handled the first 2.2 innings that saw nine hits, eight runs with one unearned, one walk, and one strikeout that dropped her to 4-12. Allison Walker relieved the next two outs of the third while having five hits and seven runs scored with two unearned. Kneier closed the last 1.2 innings, surrendering three hits and one run.

Offensively, it was McKernie who led the team going 2-for-3 with a triple, double, team-high two RBI’s, while also scoring one run. O’Shields scored two runs for a team-best and tallied one hit. Olander and Dunn had their lone hits travel for doubles. Bonaiuto, Smith, and Murray chipped in one hit, respectively.

Bryan remains home for more AAC play as Columbia College (S.C.) makes the trip to Dayton, Tenn. for a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 7 beginning at 1pm. The showdown against the Koalas will also be the Lion’s 2018 Senior Day.

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