NASHVILLE - The G-MAC Softball Championship opened up on Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee as Trevecca Nazarene, the conference regular-season champion and top seed, played host to the inaugural touranment.
#3 CEDARVILLE vs. #2 URBANA
In game one, Urbana quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead on three ground ball singles up the middle, scoring two. However, the Lady Jackets responded in the top of the second with a two-run home run by Jessica Palm to tie the score at 2-2 early in the opening contest of the Championship.
Each team plated a pair of runs in the third inning pushing the score to 4-4. The score remained tied until the sixth when Cedarville broke through with five runs, chasing Urbana starter Haley Jo Kolmerten from the game. Kolmerten was responsible for seven of the nine runs, though only five were earned.
The big hit in the inning came after Kolmerten left the game, as a double into the right field corner by Tanya Busby gave the Jackets their 9-4 lead.
Urbana made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh in the team’s final at-bat. The Knights loaded the bases with no outs, then scored two on a double by Katelyn Edwards to close to within three and bring the tying run to the plate with one out. Cecelia DeBartolo was able to secure the victory as she replaced Courtnie Spain in the seventh, earning the save and preserving the win for Spain and Cedarville.
#4 URSULINE vs. #1 TREVECCA NAZARENE
In game two, Trevecca managed to put 14 runners on base, but only plated four runs, two coming on an a RBI-single by Mackenzie Leding after Ursuline intentionally walked the G-MAC Offensive Player of the Year Breanna Zeis.
TNU grabbed an early 1-0 lead, scoring on a double-steal of second base and home. Starting pitcher Kesley Kemp took off for home after the throw from the catcher went through to second base. The game remained at 1-0 into the fourth when Leding’s two-run single pushed the lead to 3-0. Trevecca added its final fun in the sixth on Andrews solo home run to left.
The highlight of the game, was the performance of Kemp on the mound. The All-Conference pitcher tossed the conference’s first no-hitter, facing 22 hitters. She missed the perfect game after walking just one Ursuline hitter in the top of the third.
Kemp finished with four strikeouts, one walk and no hits allowed. It was the first no-hitter for TNU on the season.
#2 URBANA vs. #4 URSULINE
In the first elimination game, Ursuline posted a run in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI-fielder choice by Jayla Garner. Urbana tied the game up in the next half inning on Sierra Cronkleton’s two-out RBI-double.
Ursuline grabbed a slim lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run error with two outs by Urbana. However, the Blue Knights wasted little time claiming the lead scoring seven runs in the top of the sixth inning and putting the game away staying alive in the double elimination tournament.
In the sixth, Urbana scored its run on five hits, four walks, a hit by pitch and two wild pitches. Brooke Shultz led the way for UU, going 4-4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI. For the game, Urbana totaled 10 hits and eight walks.
Ursuline finished the season, 9-23 overall.
#1 TREVECCA vs. #3 CEDARVILLE
In the final game of day one, Trevecca won its second game to advance to the G-MAC Championships with a 4-0 win over Cedarville. TNU has not allowed a run in the 14 innings they have played in the tournament, giving up only three hits total.
The pitching staff of the Trojans continued to shine as Lindsey Stephens no-hit Cedarville through the first four innings, coming off Kelsey Kemp’s no-hit performance in the first game of the tournament against Ursuline.
The Yellow Jackets collected its first hit in the fifth on ground ball through the right side of the infield, and managed only three hits in the game.
TNU took the lead in the second inning on a double-steal of home and second, and then an RBI-ground out. G-MAC Offensive Player of the Year Breanna Zeis provided some insurance with a solo home run in the fourth inning deep to left. The Trojans added another single run in the fifth on a double-steal. This time the runner at first was unsuccessful in her steal, but the runner crossed home prior to the out.
Stephens continued to roll, holding Cedarville scoreless, closing out the complete game shutout victory in seventh.
Trevecca advances to the Championship game of the double elimination tournament tomorrow at 11:00 AM. The Trojans will wait to face the winner of the 9:00 AM game between #3 Cedarville and #2 Urbana, who will meet in the first game of the day for the second straight day. Cedarville defeated Urbana 9-6 in game one of the tournament on Thursday morning.