VIENNA, W.Va. - On Saturday, the 2014 Great Midwest Athletic Conference hosted the final day of the Softball Championships, which started with a battle between #2 Kentucky Wesleyan College and #3 Cedarville University with the Panthers advancing to the Finals against #1 Trevecca Nazarene.
#1 Trevecca Nazarene vs. #2 Kentucky Wesleyan
The Championship contest was low scoring early as things remained scoreless through the first three innings. In the fourth, TNU put together a pair of hits and took advantage of two KWC errors to post a pair of runs and take the 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, the Trojans added another pair of runs on an RBI double by Ansley Brantley that hit the very top of the fence, bounced straight up a few feet and stayed in the park robbing her of the home run. She then scored on a RBI-single by Lindsey Stephens, giving Trevecca a 4-0 lead.
TNU scored another run in the sixth and three more in the seventh, highlighted by Paige Cassidy’s pinch hit two run single to center to cap the scoring at 8-0.
In the circle, Haley Fagan allowed just one hit through the first four innings, which came to the lead-off hitter. She then allowed a hit in the fifth, two in the sixth and none in the seventh. She had six strikeouts and gave up two walks on the way to the win and the Conference Championship.
#2 Kentucky Wesleyan vs. #3 Cedarville
In the mornings first game, Cedarville took an early 1-0 lead in the top of first inning as Christina Kirkpatrick doubled and later scored on a Kelsey Chapman double.
The Panthers responded in the second inning as Ashley Crooke led off with a single through the left side and on the very next pitch Mackenzie Weedman gave her team a 2-1 lead on a home run to left. It proved to be the game-winner.
KWC added single runs in the third and sixth innings for insurance, but Josalyn Ress did the rest as she pitched a seven inning complete game, allowing just the early first inning run. She struck out four, walked two and allowed seven hits in the victory.
Kentucky Wesleyan advanced to the finals with the 4-1 win. Weedman ended the game with two of the five Panther hits, scoring twice and driving in two.
KWC advances to take on Trevecca Nazarene in the Championship game at Noon. The Panthers will need two wins against TNU to capture the G-MAC Championship, as the Trojans will need just one victory in the double-elimination tournament.