Union’s softball team swept former TranSouth Conference rival Trevecca at home on Wednesday behind solid hitting down the lineup and quality innings pitched by Parker Davis and company.
The Bulldogs won the first game with a score of 7-4 and ended the second game with a score of 8-2.
The scores reflect the solid hitting done by the Bulldogs. The bats were hot coming off the start of the day. Bulldogs started with a 4-1 lead and did not look back, leading for the rest of the time.
The Lady Bulldogs also hit a total of five home runs in Wednesday’s games. Junior Peyton Mathis had a solo home run in the second inning of the second game, and senior Haley Barnette and freshman Kaitlyn Kelley hit two home runs each. Barnette leads the team in home runs with nine on the season.
“I wasn’t trying to do too much,” Barnette said. “We like to focus on hitting ground balls, and usually when we keep that mindset, the bigger hits come. I just wanted to get on base so that we could start a rally.”
It was not only hitting that kept the Bulldogs in the lead; it also took the help of junior right-handed pitcher Parker Davis. Davis pitched ten innings total in the doubleheader and came in a reliever in the second game. She ended the day with eight strikeouts in all.
“I knew that I needed to throw the right pitch that would keep the batters unbalanced to cause either a pop-up or a ground-ball so the defense could make a play,” said Davis. “Offense helps deliver a stress-free defense in that, when we are hitting, we are more relaxed defending our ground.”
The Lady Bulldogs travel this weekend to Rome, Georgia to play Shorter University for conference play. Games are at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday and at 11 p.m. on Sunday.