NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maryville softball defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 6-3 in game one on Saturday before dropping game two to Northwood University.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan Recap
Kentucky Wesleyan took an early first-inning lead after a walk, a stolen base, and a wild pitch. The Saints retaliated in the bottom half with a pair of runs, however. Taylor Shingler led off with a single, stole two bases, and came home to score on a Mandi Lenon groundout. Melanie Nelson later scored after walking and coming home on an errant Panther throw.
 
Maryville starter Chayse Ramey kept KWU quiet in the second and the lead doubled in the bottom half when Lexi Touchette put a ball in play forcing an error to bring home Taylor Duff.
 
In the third inning, Tori Forbeck and Emily Corona collected one-out singles to set the stage for a two-RBI single from Erin Sammelmann. The junior came home to score two batters later on a single by Touchette to extend the lead to 6-1.
 
Ramey continued to coast through the next few frames until running into trouble in the top of the seventh. In total, the junior went 6.1 innings, allowing two earned with five strikeouts. Reagan Smith came in and got the next two outs to close out the Panthers and pick up her first save of the season.
 
Winning Pitcher: Chayse Ramey (3-3)
Losing Pitcher: Immi Mann (0-3)
Save: Reagan Smith (1)
  
Batting Leaders
Erin Sammelmann: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, R
Lexi Touchette: 1-for-3, RBI
Emily Corona: 1-for-3, R, SB
 
Northwood Recap
The Saints again fell into an early hole on a Northwood RBI single in the top of the first. They added two more in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
Despite a complete-game performance from Maryville starter Emersen Heron, Northwood pitcher Hailey Leister shut down the Saints' offense allowing just two hits over seven innings. Heron pitched six allowing three earned with three strikeouts.
 
Winning Pitcher: Hailey Leister (2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Emersen Heron (2-3)
  
Batting Leaders
Taylor Shingler: 1-for-3
Melanie Nelson: 1-for-3
 
Records:
Maryville: 4-6
Kentucky Wesleyan: 2-5
Northwood: 3-0
  
What's Next?
Maryville softball wraps up the Music City Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 19, against Ashland University at 11 a.m., and Trevecca Nazarene University at 1 p.m.