NEW ALBANY, Ind. - IU Southeast softball split a doubleheader against the Brescia Bearcats at the Koetter Sports Softball Complex Friday afternoon.
The Grenadiers are 7-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play following Friday's results. IU Southeast is back in action Saturday in Grayson, Ky., for a 1:00 p.m. road doubleheader against KCU.
Game 1: IU Southeast 15, Brescia 4
IU Southeast opened the scoring after Kaitlyn Leister hit a two-run single. The Bearcats answered with a pair of runs in the second, then the Grenadiers scored three in the next frame. Brescia would score one run in the top of the third to make it 5-3, but IU Southeast would blow the game open in the bottom of the third.
The Grenadiers scored eight runs in the bottom of the third inning. Leister led off the inning with a triple, then scored after a Lillian Mackey grounded out to second. Three at-bats later, with Ava Allen on third and two outs, McKenzie Walters doubled to make it 8-3.
After Walters' double, IU Southeast rattled off five consecutive hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch. The Grenadiers scored six runs with two outs and held a 13-3 lead after three innings.
IU Southeast's offense finished with 15 runs on 16 hits, scored at least two runs in every inning, and eight different Grenadiers recording at least one hit.
Game 2: Brescia 4, IU Southeast 3
Brescia opened the scoring in game two with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Both Bearcats' first inning runs were scored with two outs. One inning later, the Grenadiers scored a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the second.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Walters singled to center field to tie the game. IU Southeast added another two-out run in the fourth. Josie Lemmons got the rally started with a single to left, then scored after Walters doubled to right to take a 3-2 lead.
Brescia would tie the game in the top of the fifth, then take the lead for good in the sixth. IU Southeast got a runner on base in the seventh but was unable to score, and the Bearcats took game two.
