Cumberland (12-20, 8-16 Mid-South Conference) shared the first MSC softball series double header against Bethel University (23-13, 17-13 MSC). The Phoenix won the first game 7-2 before falling 9-1 against the Wildcats in the second game.
The Phoenix started 1-0 early in the double header’s first game after Maddie Cochran scored an RBI double. The phoenix reacted quickly, tying the game 1-1 at the end of the first. Ashton Whiles hit an RBI to bring Tyra Graham home.
The Phoenix met again in the lower third and took a 2-1 lead. Bethel went to Ashton Whiles with bases loaded, which brought Taylor Woodring home. Kenzie France started at the end of fourth place and hit a home run deep over the left field wall. The explosion put the Phoenix 3-1 ahead of the Wildcats.
Bethel returned to the game in fifth with an RBI single on the left field line and took the lead in Cumberland 3-2. In fifth place, the Phoenix responded with their own run and took the lead 4-2 against the Wildcats. Ashtyn Blair went to the second Basemen who brought Kelsie Boyle home.
The Cumberland offensive continued into the sixth inning when three runs were added. Madison Woodruff tore an RBI single over the shortstop to bring Taylor Woodring home. In the following attack, Mariah Clark hit a two-part home run to get the final score 7-2.
Clark made it into the circle too, claiming her sixth win for the senior. The junior pitcher knocked out three batters and allowed two runs over six innings.
On the offensive, Cumberland had nine hits compared to the six hits Bethel registered that day. Mariah Clark and Madison Woodruff led all Phoenix batters with two hits each.
DeeDee Dunn, Kenzie France, Ashton Whiles, Tyra Graham and Taylor Woodring scored the other five goals for the Phoenix. With the victory in the first game of the double header, Cumberland had a winning streak of five games.
The series ended there when the Phoenix fell 9-1 against Bethel in the second game. Bethel scored five runs in the first two innings and prompted the Phoenix to make a pitching change. Kaitlin Higgins came into play in the second half for Bela Soto and threw up the rest of the game.
Bethel’s pitcher Billie Douglas had a perfect game for the Wildcats by the fifth inning when she went to Mariah Clark. Cumberland hit the board with an RBI double in the following game to end Douglas’ no-hit bid.
Bethel put together a sixth three-run inning to win the game 9-1 over the rule of the run. Kaitlin Higgins finished the game, allowing six hits with three earned runs while hitting three batters. Cumberland was outwitted by Bethel in Game 12-2. Tyra Graham scored the other goal in the game for the Phoenix.
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