MCKENZIE, TN -- Blackburn College Softball captured their first win of the 2024 season by defeating Bethel University (Tennesee) 8-7. The squad ended up splitting the doubleheader as they fell in the nightcap 13-1.
Senior Holly Heuerman led the team with three hits on the day including a grand slam home run and also set a career high with five runs batted in during the team's win. Freshman Kenadee Frey hit a triple, double and a single on the day while sophomore Zoe Mitchell notched a double and a single. Heuerman and junior Miley Kwiatkowski both led the team with two runs scored. Shelby Koening pitched the complete game and finished with four strikeouts.
The opener saw Blackburn face a 1-0 deficit as they entered their third inning. After an out opened the inning, sophomores Brianna Melchor and Breana Allen and Kwiatkowski singled to load the bases. Heuerman then followed the second out by knocking the ball over the fence for her first home run of the season to put Blackburn up 4-0.
Bethel made it 4-2 with a run in their third inning, but Mitchell scored in the top of the fourth to answer. The inning opened with Mitchell hitting her first double of the season. She then advanced to third on a balk by the Wildcat pitcher. Freshman Sierra Hiser hit Mitchell in with a sacrifice fly to put BC ahead 5-2.
After the hosts scored another run in the bottom of the fourth, Blackburn responded with three runs in the fifth inning. Kwiatkowski reached second on an error to start the inning. Senior Mckenzie Smith followed by reaching first on an error as well. Heuerman then singled to score Kwiatkowski and put senior Lexi Shaw on second after she pinched ran for Smith. Frey extended the rally with the second double of her season to score Shaw and placed Heuerman on third. Mitchell then came up and singled to score Heuerman to put the team ahead 8-3.
The Wildcats managed to score three quick runs in the bottom of the seventh and had bases loaded with no outs. The Beavers allowed one more run but were able to close out the inning with three straight outs to capture the 8-7 victory.
In the nightcap, Frey opened the second inning with a single then took advantage of two Wildcat errors to score the Blackburn run.
With the split, Blackburn is now 1-5 on the season while Bethel moves to 6-8 overall. The Beavers return to action Wednesday to take on Rhodes College in another doubleheader.