The Briar Cliff softball team totaled 27 hits across two games against Bethel Sunday but split 1-1 with the Threshers. The Chargers scored 11 runs in the first game off 14 hits and Maddi Duncan earned her second win of the season.
 
"Unfortunately, today it was a tale of two games. Historically we've struggled to keep our momentum through two games and today proved we need to keep working on it," said head coach Erin Bly. "Defensively we gave the game away in game two and we'll have to find a way to bounce back next week!"
 
In yesterday's doubleheader, the Chargers struggled to bring runners across home plate early in the contests. Today was a different story, as the Chargers scored three in the first inning of game one and two runs in game two.
 
Game 1 – W, 11-3
Back-to-back singles from Karina Cupples and Callie Billings kicked off game one. The bases were loaded after Kylee Lukes was hit by pitch, and Cupples would score on the next at-bat via error by the catcher. Ali Naumann and Karis Gifford drove in runs in back-to-back at bats to give the Cliff a 3-0 lead.
 
Maddi Duncan made quick work of the Thresher batters, retiring the side 1-2-3 via groundouts.
 
Cupples singled and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. She would later score in the inning off a single to left field from Aubrey Chichurka. Kieya Belmont increased the BC lead to 5-0 with a single, scoring Lukes.
 
After the Threshers scored twice in the third, the Chargers responded with a pair of runs in the fourth. Chichurka drove in Veronica Pitzl with a double, while Ali Naumann drove in Lukes.
 
Chichurka continued her stellar play at the plate in the fifth with a double to score two more BC runs. Naumann added insurance runs in the seventh, while Malina Weerts went 1-2-3 to close out the 11-3 win.
 
Cupples recorded four hits on five at-bats, scored four runs and stole three bases. Chichurak and Naumann each recorded three hits and four RBIs.
 
Duncan earns the win after going 2.1 innings with two strikeouts. Morgan Jones threw 2.0 innings in relief with one strikeout. Mackenna Raby and Werts combined to throw 2.2 scoreless innings.
 
Game 2 – L, 3-6
Carrying her momentum over from game one, Cupples led off the game with a single. She moved into scoring position after stealing second and third base. Lukes doubled down the left field line, scoring Cupples, and giving the Cliff a 1-0 lead. Back-to-back passed balls allowed Lukes to cross home plate. The Threshers scored a run in the bottom half of the inning off a BC error.
 
After four and a half scoreless innings, the Threshers took the lead with a two-run home run to left center. With runners on second and third, Cupples grounded out to second but Belmont scored on the play tying the game at three.
 
Bethel loaded the bases in the sixth with two outs and would score three runs off a Charger error. Looking to match the Threshers, Briar Cliff loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with two outs. However, a fly out to center field would end the game 3-6 in favor of Bethel.
 
Five Chargers tallied two hits each and four recorded extra base hits. Luke and Cupples each drove in one run and scored one run.
 
Katelyn Kotlarz is tagged with the loss after throwing 6.0 innings with eight strikeouts and two earned runs.
 
The Chargers travel to Fulton, Missouri next weekend and will play six games in three days starting with Graceland on Friday at 10 a.m.