The Briar Cliff softball team opened its Friday slate at the Top Gun Midwest Classic, in Shawnee, Kansas with a hard-fought one-run loss to Clarke University before bouncing back with a 6–5 victory over MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Game 1 vs. Clarke University – L, 6–5
The Chargers battled until the final out but came up just short as Clarke University pulled away late to secure a 6–5 decision.
BCU found themselves trailing early after Clarke plated runs in both the first and second innings to build a five-run advantage. Briar Cliff responded with a steady comeback, chipping away at the deficit with timely hitting and aggressive base running.
Briar Cliff broke through in the sixth inning, tying the game at five behind a rally sparked by a triple from third baseman
Sydney Mennenga, an RBI single by
Leah Montes, a ground out from
Elizabeth Austin, and a double by
Sydney Ebel. Clarke answered in the bottom half of the inning with the go-ahead run, reclaiming the lead for good.
Shelby Blankenship provided strong relief for the Chargers, tossing 4.2 innings while allowing just one run on three hits and striking out four.
Offensively, Mennenga led the way with a 3-for-4 performance and two stolen bases. Montes added two hits, while Ebel drove in two runs.
Game 2 vs. MidAmerica Nazarene – W, 6–5
Briar Cliff bounced back in game two with a resilient 6–5 win over MidAmerica Nazarene.
The Chargers opened the scoring in the third inning as Ebel grounded out to bring home a run. MidAmerica Nazarene surged ahead in the fifth with a four-run inning, highlighted by a three-run home run, but Briar Cliff answered immediately.
In the bottom of the fifth, BCU reclaimed the lead with a four-run response.
Brooke Oppliger drew a bases-loaded walk,
Kenadee Loew was hit by a pitch to drive in another run, and Montes delivered a clutch two-run single to put the Chargers back on top.
Aubrey White earned the win in relief, allowing just one run on three hits over 2.2 innings.
Lauryn Mattox got the start in the circle, working 4.1 innings.
Montes led the Chargers with two RBIs from the eighth spot in the lineup, while
Elizabeth Austin went 2-for-3 at the plate. Briar Cliff continued to pressure defensively and, on the bases, drawing seven walks and stealing four bases, including two from Ebel.
Briar Cliff returns to action Saturday as the Chargers face Bellevue (NE) and Park (MO). Game times are set for 2:40 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
