SSU SB posts 15 runs in opening contest in doubleheader split with Brescia (W 15-0/5, L 2-0)

OWENSBORO, Ky. -- The softball program at Shawnee State came away with a split of a road doubleheader Thursday over the Brescia Bearcats' softball program, as the Bears utilized a massive 15-run outing on 14 hits to come away with its second consecutive mercy rule to highlight play throughout the day at Jack C. Fisher Park in Owensboro, Ky.

Shawnee State (23-13, 18-8 River States Conference) continues to hold second place in the River States Conference Standings by one game over Oakland City (Ind.) prior to the duo facing off against one another tomorrow. The Bears went 21-for-61 at the plate, batting .344 as a group in the doubleheader.

Pitching-wise, Shawnee State was led by a combined complete game five-hitter from Genavie Espinoza, Cameryn Davidson and Bella Sorbilli, who allowed just three hits between them and no extra base hits in the Bears' run-rule effort in Game 1. The SSU defense held strong behind the trio as well, committing no errors in 13 defensive chances in Game 1's mercy rule triumph.

In Game 2, Shawnee State pitcher Emma Wargel posted a quality outing, throwing a complete game five-hitter in the tight 2-0 setback in Game 2. Wargel struck out six batters as well.

Game 1 Highlights

Shawnee State, who hit at a torrid pace in Tuesday's 19-2 victory in five innings over Midway (Ky.), blitzed Brescia for seven early runs in the opening half inning alone to begin Game 1.

Following back-to-back singles by Sierra Dunnagan and Jenna Christopher, both players attempted a double steal that was not only successful, but scored a run as Dunnagan came across on an infield throwing miscue to give Shawnee State a 1-0 lead. Genavie Espinoza then brought in Christopher with an RBI single down the left field line, allowing the latter to score as Shawnee State laid claim to a 2-0 advantage.

Mackenzie Hale's double to right field kept the roll going as both Hale and Espinoza moved into scoring position on the play, and after the cleanup hitter's double, a walk by Emily Moore brought up Bianca Belo-Diaz who shot a two-run RBI single to center to score both Christopher and Espinoza, giving the Bears a 4-0 lead. Moore then scored herself on Sydney Skiver's RBI single to right field -- as Shawnee State immediately took a 5-0 lead before an out was even recorded in the frame.

Later on in the frame, Dunnagan returned to the plate -- and with her single to right field, brought home one run with the other scoring via the unearned variety after Dunnagan advanced all the way to third base on an outfield error that allowed Skiver to come in behind lead runner Emily Cheatham -- capping off the 11-batter, seven-run top half.

With a comfortable lead in its back pocket, the Bears expanded on that cushion as a leadoff single by Espinoza, an error and a hit batter loaded the bases for Cameryn Davidson, who came up big from the designated player position by doubling to score Espinoza, Belo-Diaz and Hale as Shawnee State took a 10-0 lead after an inning and a half of work.

Christopher then made things happen on her own in the third frame with a double to right field and a steal of third that forced another infield throwing error to be made on the same play, pushing the lead to 11-0 after three innings complete, and in the fourth, a leadoff walk by Belo-Diaz, an error and a single by Davidson was followed by two consecutive wild pitches that allowed Belo-Diaz to score and Davidson, along with Skiver, to advance into scoring position.

The above sequence then set up Emily Cheatham's infield RBI single to score Skiver, and after a steal of second by Cheatham, Espinoza reached on a fielding error while Hale posted an RBI single through the left side to score Cheatham and Davidson, finalizing the scoring in Game 1.

For the contest, Hale (3-for-4, double, RBI, two runs scored), Davidson (2-for-3, double, three RBI), Espinoza (2-for-4, RBI, two runs scored), Christopher (2-for-4, two runs scored) and Dunnagan (2-for-4, RBI, run scored) each had multi-hit performances, while Belo-Diaz (1-for-1, walk, two RBI, two runs scored), and Cheatham and Skiver (1-for-3, RBI, two runs scored each) all reached the hit column in Thursday's 15-0 win.

Additional

Emily Cheatham (2-for-2), Emily Moore (1-for-2) and Jenna Christopher, Genavie Espinoza, Mackenzie Hale and Bianca Belo-Diaz went 1-for-3 each to lead Shawnee State from a hitting standpoint in Game 2 Thursday.

Shawnee State (23-13, 18-8 River States Conference) takes on Oakland City (22-14, 18-10 River States Conference) in what will be two huge River States Conference matchups that will be held at the EGGSL Field in Oakland City Friday afternoon. Game time is set for 3 p.m.