The Briar Cliff softball team closed out play Saturday at the Branson RecPlex with a split, earning a decisive win over Graceland before dropping a close contest to Culver-Stockton.

Game 1 vs. Graceland – W, 9–1
Briar Cliff opened the day with an impressive offensive performance, defeating Graceland 9–1 behind a strong outing from Sydney Mennenga at the plate.

Mennenga went a perfect 3-for-3, doubling in the second inning and adding singles in the third and sixth.

The Chargers got on the board in the second inning when Mennenga doubled to center field to drive in a run. Leah Montes followed with a sacrifice bunt that plated another run, and Montie Richter added an RBI single down the right-field line to give BCU a 3–0 lead.

The Cliff continued to build the advantage in the third inning when Mennenga delivered another RBI single to extend the lead to 4–0.

The Chargers finished with 13 hits in the contest. Brooke Oppliger and Mennenga each drove in three runs, while Shelby Blankenship and Kaela Persico also recorded multiple hits. Briar Cliff also turned a double play defensively.

MJ Bannon earned the win in the circle for the Chargers, allowing just one run on five hits over six innings while striking out seven and walking one.

Game 2 vs. Culver-Stockton – L, 5–4
Briar Cliff came up just short in the second game of the day, falling 5–4 to Culver-Stockton despite outhitting the Wildcats eight to six.

The Chargers struck first in the opening inning when Lauryn Mattox singled to drive in the game's first run. Briar Cliff extended the lead to 2–0 in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Mennenga.

Culver-Stockton answered in the bottom half of the third with a three-run home run to take a 3–2 lead.

Briar Cliff tied the game in the fourth inning when Sydney Ebel delivered a sacrifice fly, but Culver-Stockton responded with a two-run single later in the inning to regain the lead.


Mattox, Blankenship, and Montes each recorded two hits to lead the Chargers offensively, while Mattox, Ebel, Mennenga, and Persico each drove in a run. 

BCU showed patience at the plate with six walks and remained aggressive on the bases, stealing six bases in the contest. The Chargers also turned a double play and did not commit an error defensively, with Persico recording nine chances in the field.

The Chargers return to action on Wednesday, March 18, traveling across town to take on the Morningside Mustangs to begin conference action. Game times are set for 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. 
 

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