BPCU Softball Kicks Off Season

Courtesy of BPCU

Bre w t o n – Pa r k e r Christian University Lady Barons opened up the softball season with a sweep of the Koalas of Columbia College, S.C., taking game one 6-3 and following it up with a 5-2 victory in game two.

Game 1

In Game 1, the Barons broke open a 1-1 game with a four-run fourth inning, then added insurance in the sixth to pull away. Kaylee Odum delivered the pivotal blow, ripping a two-run double as part of the fourth-inning outburst that pushed Brewton-Parker in front for good. The Barons finished with nine hits and no errors in the opener, capitalizing on their best scoring chance and stretching the lead to 6-1 on a two-RBI single by Destiny Lucas in the sixth.

Odum also set the tone in the circle, earning the Game 1 win with 6.0 innings of work. The right-hander limited Columbia to five hits and struck out four, navigating traffic while working with the lead after the fourth. Brewton-Parker’s defense backed Odum cleanly, playing error-free behind her, while Columbia’s lone miscue and three walks helped extend innings for the Barons’ offense.

Columbia mounted late pressure, scoring once in the sixth and again in the seventh. A double helped the Koalas cut into the deficit in the sixth, but they were unable to overcome the Barons' lead and dropped the opener 6-3.

Game 2

Game 2 followed a similar script, with the Koalas striking first before the Barons answered and controlled the middle innings. Wolff doubled and scored at the top of the first to give Columbia a 1-0 edge, but the Barons immediately responded in the bottom half. Tori Wright doubled to tie the game 1-1, and a single by Destiny Lucas helped push more pressure on Columbia’s starter. Brewton-Parker then moved in front with a multi-run fourth that made it 3-1, and the Barons tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth to build a 5-2 cushion.

Wright and Lucas again sparked the lineup in the nightcap. Wright posted a two-hit game with two doubles and an RBI, consistently setting the table in the heart of the order. Lucas added two hits, two RBIs, and a walk across the doubleheader, driving in key runs and extending innings in both contests. Brewton-Parker finished Game 2 with six hits and drew six walks, steadily wearing down Columbia’s pitching while overcoming a pair of defensive miscues of its own.

In the circle, Sammantha Mathews anchored the Game 2 win with 5.0 effective innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five to earn the decision. Mathews kept Columbia off balance after the firstinning run and worked around limited traffic until turning the game over to the bullpen with a lead. The Barons’ staff combined for seven strikeouts and just three hits allowed in the finale, holding Columbia to two runs despite five walks.

Head Coach Madison Herrin reflected on the day, saying, 'Today was a great day for our team. Pitchers did a great job keeping us in both games. We had great performances from some key freshmen as well as our veteran players!'