DAYTON, Tenn. — The Bryan College Lions softball team capped off a memorable Saturday with a doubleheader sweep over the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP), winning Game 1 with a decisive score of 8-4 and taking Game 2 decisively, 2-1. The twin victories push Bryan to 7-7 on the season and deliver a statement performance on their home turf.

Game 2: Bryan Bats Erupt for 14 Hits in 8-4 Win
In the first game of the series, Bryan came out swinging and never looked back, racking up 14 hits and eight runs in a commanding 8-4 victory to take game 1. The Lions scored in five of six innings and got a complete game from pitcher Maddie Lee, who allowed four runs on nine hits while striking out three.

Bryan seized control early, plating two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-bagger by Savanna Schaffer that scored Juliana Santillanes, followed by an RBI single from Lily Taylor. The Lions added a run in the third and continued to build on their lead through the fifth and sixth innings, weathering a four-run UHSP uprising in the top of the fourth that briefly tied the game at 4.

Bryan responded with authority, scoring four more times over the final two innings to put the game out of reach. Schaffer led the offensive charge, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Santillanes and Lee each added a pair of hits, while Lakyn Lockhart, Ava Saul, Kendal Mason, and pinch hitter Karly Blackwell each drove in a run. Santillanes added two stolen bases on the day to pace the Bryan attack on the base paths.

Game 2: Lions Rally Late to Edge UHSP, 2-1
In a tightly contested seven-inning battle, the Lions mounted a clutch two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off with a 2-1 victory. UHSP had taken a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a run-scoring single by A. Kimble, and that score held through six innings as Lions pitcher KP Smith and UHSP hurler A. Lucas traded zeros.

The Lions finally broke through in the seventh when pinch runner Cana Green came around to score on a triple by pinch hitter Kaycee Baldwin — the biggest hit of the day. One batter later, Juliana Santillanes singled home Baldwin to give Bryan the lead for good. Smith finished the complete-game effort allowing just one run on five hits, striking out four without issuing a walk on only 83 pitches.

The Lions finished with nine hits and were paced offensively by Brooklyn Malone (2-for-3), Ava Saul (2-for-3), and Maddie Lee (1-for-3). Bryan's defense did commit two errors that contributed to the UHSP run, but the Lions made the plays when it mattered most down the stretch.

Looking Ahead
The doubleheader sweep gives Bryan considerable momentum as the Lions settle in at the .500 mark at 7-7. The team demonstrated depth in both pitching and the lineup across the two games, with key contributions from role players and regulars alike. The Lions will look to carry this winning momentum into their next series against Columbia College as they begin conference play.