DAYTON, Tenn. – The Bryan College Lions softball team dropped both games of a Friday doubleheader to #19 Tennessee Southern, but the team's response in the nightcap provided a glimpse of the resilience that could spark a turnaround as the season progresses.
After being run-ruled 11-3 in the early game, Bryan regrouped and made the second contest competitive before ultimately falling 5-3 in a much-improved seven-inning performance.
Game One: Early Deficit Proves Too Much
The opening game saw UT Southern (3-0) seize control early and never look back. The visitors struck for a run in the second inning when A. King launched a solo home run, giving them a 1-0 advantage.
Bryan's bats came alive in the bottom of the second, putting together their best inning of the day. After
Kendal Mason drew a walk,
Savanna Schaffer drove her in with an RBI double.
Lily Taylor followed with another run-scoring double to give the Lions a 2-1 lead. When the Firehawks' catcher made an error, Taylor came around to score, extending Bryan's advantage to 3-1.
The momentum was short-lived. Tennessee Southern answered immediately in the third inning with M. McCain's two-run homer to tie the game at 3-3. The Lions couldn't generate any offense over the next two innings, and UT Southern broke the game open in the fifth with C. Cook's three-run blast that made it 6-3.
The sixth inning proved devastating for Bryan (0-5). Tennessee Southern sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring five runs highlighted by McCain's second home run of the game – a two-run shot that capped the rally. The game ended after six innings via the run rule with Tennessee Southern winning 11-3.
KP Smith took the loss for Bryan, surrendering 10 runs over 5.1 innings. Despite the lopsided score,
Brooklyn Malone collected two hits, including a double, while both Schaffer and Taylor contributed RBI doubles.
Game Two: Lions Battle to the End
The resilience Bryan showed in taking an early lead in game one carried over to the nightcap, where the Lions made UTSouthern work for every run.
The Firehawks jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning, capitalizing on three Bryan errors to manufacture runs. But Bryan answered immediately, with
Savanna Schaffer delivering an RBI double to score
Kaycee Baldwin and cut the deficit to 3-1.
The game settled into a pitcher's duel for the next three innings. UT Southern added single runs in the second and third innings – the latter on C. Cook's solo home run – to build a 5-1 advantage.
Bryan refused to quit. In the fifth inning, the Lions mounted their most sustained rally of the doubleheader.
Maddie Lee doubled to start the inning, and after an error allowed runners to advance, consecutive RBI singles by
Abbie Young and
Madison Carpenter brought Bryan within 5-3.
The Lions had the tying run at the plate and momentum on their side, but couldn't push across the equalizer. Tennessee Southern's E. Singletar settled down to retire the final six Bryan batters, preserving the 5-3 victory.
Despite the loss, Bryan's performance in game two showed significant progress. The Lions outhit Tennessee Southern 12-8 and cut their errors in half compared to the opener.
Lily Taylor was outstanding at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three singles, while
Madison Carpenter and
Kaycee Baldwin each collected two hits.
M. Lee pitched a complete game for Bryan, surrendering just three earned runs while striking out nine batters. The right-hander battled through 125 pitches and gave his team a chance to win despite the early deficit.
Looking Ahead
The doubleheader split told the story of two different Bryan teams. The first game saw the Lions unable to overcome early mistakes and a potent Tennessee Southern offense. But the second game revealed a squad capable of battling adversity, generating offense, and staying competitive deep into the contest.
For a team still searching for its first win of the season, the lessons from game two are invaluable. Bryan proved it could outhit a quality opponent and mount comebacks when facing deficits. The key will be carrying that competitive spirit into future games while cleaning up the defensive miscues that have plagued the early season.
Bryan College (0-6) will look to build on the positives from the second game as they continue their campaign, knowing that the gap between their potential and their results continues to narrow. They are back at it again on Saturday hosting the Taylor University Trojans for a double-header starting at 11:00 am.
