Union Softball Drops Doubleheader to Johnson

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – The Union Commonwealth University softball team (9-25, 4-12 AAC) dropped both games of its doubleheader to Johnson (17-10, 7-3 AAC) on Wednesday night at Union Field, falling 9-2 and 12-9.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: Johnson 9, Union Commonwealth 2

In the first inning, Johnson took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of RBI singles.

The Royals added to their lead in the second inning with an RBI single to left-center field, making it 3-0.

In the third inning, Johnson extended its advantage with a two-run home run to push the score to 5-0.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Union got on the board when Skylar Smith doubled to left field, driving in Lily Allen and Tori Turner to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Over the remainder of the game, the Royals added four more runs while holding the Bulldogs scoreless to secure a 9-2 victory.

Pitching
W: Madisun Pritchard (4-2): 4IP, 2H
L: Taylor Sain (3-7): 1.1IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER

Notable Performances

• Skylar Smith: 1-for-3, 2RBI

• Tori Turner: 1-for-2, R

• Lily Allen: 1-for-3, R

Game 2: Johnson 12, Union Commonwealth 9

Johnson struck first in the opening inning, scoring five runs to take a 5-0 lead.

Union responded in the bottom half of the inning when Kinsley Redmon lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in Savanna Higgins. Later in the inning, as Skylar Smith stole second, a Johnson error allowed Lily Allen to score and cut the deficit to 5-2.

In the fourth inning, Hayden Keirsey came through as a pinch hitter with a single past the shortstop, driving in Ashleigh McLeskey to make it 5-3.

The Royals extended their lead in the fifth inning with a double and a single, each driving in a run to push the score to 7-3.

Johnson added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, making it 8-3.

Union answered in the bottom of the sixth in a bases-loaded situation when Keirsey grounded out to shortstop but drove in Taylor Kelly from third to cut the deficit to 8-4. Later in the inning, again with the bases loaded, Allen delivered a double to left field that scored Higgins, Turner and Ryleigh Petrey, pulling Union within one at 8-7.

In the seventh inning, Johnson regained momentum with an RBI single to make it 9-7. A Union error later in the inning allowed two more runs to score, extending the lead to 11-7. The Royals added another run on an RBI double to left field, making the score 12-7.

Pitching
W: Taylor Minnick (1-0): 4IP, 2H, 3R, ER, SO
L: Kerry Dixon (0-7): 0.1IP, 4H, 5R, 3ER, SO

Notable Performances

• Lily Allen: 2-for-4, 3RBI, R

• Hayden Keirsey: 1-for-3, 2RBI

• Kinsley Redmon: 1-for-3, RBI, R

To see the Access Health Player of the Game, click here.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs travel to Anglin Softball Field in Johnson City, Tenn., to face Milligan on Friday, April 3. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., with Game Two set for 4 p.m.