NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Trevecca Nazarene softball team (23-6, 12-1 G-MAC) lost for the first time in Great Midwest Athletic conference play this season, falling 3-1 to Kentucky Wesleyan College (18-7, 9-0 G-MAC) 3-1 in game one of a scheduled double-header. Trevecca rallied to split the day, winning 6-3 in the second game.

This season, most G-MAC series are still four games, but only the first three games in the series count as G-MAC contests in the official standings. The first two games of the four-game series between Trevecca and Kentucky Wesleyan were moved from last week, to Wednesday, April 15 (tomorrow). Therefore, today's first game is the only one of the two played today that will count in the G-MAC standings.

Trevecca will play at Kentucky Wesleyan on Wednesday (1 p.m.) to conclude the season series. Both games on Wednesday will count toward the G-MAC standings.

The Panthers are the only team in the G-MAC with a non-losing record against the Trojans. The series is now tied 7-7 all-time. Trevecca is 41-3 versus the rest of the conference combined (14-1 vs Cedarville, 11-1 vs Ursuline, 6-1 vs Alderson Broaddus, 6-0 vs Ohio Valley, and 2-0 vs Davis & Elkins and Salem International).

GAME ONE

Neither team scored through the first two and half innings. It wasn't until the Trojans manufactured a run in the bottom of the third that and advantage was gained.

Jordan Griner (JR/Mulberry, Tenn.) led off the third for the Trojans with a single to left. Ansley Brantley (JR/Kite, Ga.) walked, moving Griner to third. Kayla Richards (SO/Cedar Hill, Tenn. ) came on to run for Griner. Bailey Alexander (FR/Glasgow, Ky.) laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. Kelsey Kemp (SR/Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) was next and reached on a fielders choice. Richards was tagged out sliding into home on a nice play by Panther second baseman Amber Pendergraft and catcher Courney Lockwood. Brantley and Kemp ended up on the corners. Mackenzie Leding (SR/Springfield, Tenn.) showed bunt on a subsequent bunt, drawing the corner infielders in and allowing Kemp to draw attention from the Panthers defense enough to score Brantley from third without a hit. The run put the Trojans up 1-0.

Unfortunately it was the only run the Trojans scored and the home team left nine runners on base.

In the sixth the Panthers got all the run they would need when Pendergraft reached on a one-out single and scored on Samantha Marksbury's two run home run beyond the center field wall.

KWC added an insurance run with a solo home run off the bat of Jaclyn Parker.

Trevecca stranded two in the sixth and seventh innings.

Trevecca had seven hits and no errors in the first game.

Lindsey Stephens (SR/Somerset, Ky.) was 2-for-3 with a double. Brantley was 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, a run scored, a walks, a double, and reached on a hit-by-pitch.

Casey Smith (8-2) picked up the win with 6.2 innings of work. She allowed a walk and had two strikeouts.

Haley Fagan (JR/Cornersville, Tenn.) is now 12-3 for the Trojans after taking the loss. Fagan pitched 6.2 and allowed six hits, three runs, and two walks while striking out four.

The loss ends a 12-game win streak for the Trojans.

GAME TWO

Kentucky Wesleyan kept the momentum going in game two. The Panthers scored a run in the top of the second for a 1-0 lead. Then added two more in the third for a 3-0 advantage.

It remained that way until the bottom of the fifth, when the Trojans scored six runs. Trevecca had 13 hits in the second game with eight of those in the fifth inning. Trevecca left another eight runners on base in game two.

In the six-run fifth, Kaitlin Crumpler (SO/Smyrna, Tenn.) reached on a one-out single. Brantley singled before an Alexander double that scored Crumpler and Brantley. Kemp singled and stole second. Mackenzie Leding singled, scoring Alexander. Kemp scored on a wild pitch. Lindsey Stephens followed with her fifth home run of the year, all in the last three weeks, scoring Leding. Danielle Tyson (FR/Smithville, Tenn.) doubled to left and scored on a Kaylon Richards single. Trevecca sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning.

Lindsey Stephens (7-3) got the win with five innings of work. Stephens had five strikeouts and allowed five hits, three runs – all earned, and one walk. Kemp came on to pitch the final two innings, picking up the save after allowing just one hit with four strikeouts.

Jessica Carmon (2-2) took the loss with 4.1 innings of work and allowed nine hits and five runs.

Bailey Alexander was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a run scored, and two RBI. It was her sixth double and first career triple. Kemp was 1-for-3 and had her 12th stolen base of the season.