May 3, 2010

Story courtesy of Trevecca Nazarene Sports Information

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - No. 19 and top-seeded Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) (41-15) outlasted sixth-seeded Bethel University (Tenn.) (25-27) 5-4 in 10 innings in the 2010 TranSouth Athletic Conference Championship game. The win gives the Trojans the automatic bid to the 30th Annual NAIA Softball Championship at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex in Decatur, Ala., May 20-26.

In the bottom of the first inning, Trevecca Nazarene's lone senior, Megan Hemmingsen, sent a 2-2 pitch over the center-field fence for a 1-0 lead. A batter later, Monica West hit her second home run of the day, a solo shot over the left-field fence. West now has a team and conference leading 16 home runs on the season. The home run also tied a Trevecca Nazarene team record with 67 home runs.

The 16 home runs by West this season ties her with former Trojan and current graduate assistant Brittiany Johnson for third on the all-time list for home runs in a season. Johnson hit 16 in 2007 and is also second on the list with her 20 home runs in 2006. Jennifer Perkins is the all-time leader with 23 home runs in 2007.

In the second inning Trevecca Nazarene's Lauren Baker led off the inning by reaching base on a Bethel error. Breanna Zeis following with by hitting the first pitch to her over the left-field fence for a 4-0 Trojan lead. For Zeis that is her ninth home run of the year.

The home run by Zeis also sets a new Trevecca Nazarene team record for home runs in a season with 68. The 2007 team hit 67 in 70 games, while the 2010 team reached 68 in their 56th game of the year.

With two out in the top of the fourth Shelby Cummings reached on a walks and later scored on a Trevecca Nazarene error to make the score 4-1.

In the top of the seventh the Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs. Cummings reached on an error, scoring Brooke Cary. A batter later Ashley Simmons tied the game with an two-RBI single to right. Lindsey Davis and Amanda Renfroe scored tying the game at four.

That's the way it stayed until the bottom of the 10th, when Melinda Patterson's infield single scored Monica West with the winning run.

Riley Mashburn (22-7) pitched all 10 innings to earn the victory, allowing four unearned runs on seven hits, with 12 strikeouts and nine walks. Mashburn threw 199 pitches. Ashton Carnahan (6-5) started, but lasted less than two innings, giving up four runs on three home runs to the Trojans. She was replaced by Leah Hensley, but came back in to finish and ended up taking the loss.

Only Melinda Patterson had more than one hit for Trevecca Nazarene. Patterson finished 2-4 with the game winning RBI. Breanna Zeis was 1-4 with a home run, a run scored and two RBI. West finished 1-5 with two runs scored and a RBI.

Trevecca Nazarene had eight hits and five errors. Bethel had seven hits and and three errors.

The win over Union earlier in the day on April 30 gave Trevecca Nazarene a 40-win season for just the fourth time in school history, all in the last five years.

Trevecca Nazarene, the TranSouth regular season champion, won their fourth TranSouth Tournament title in the last five years. Trevecca Nazarene has five TranSouth regular season titles in the last six seasons.