DAYTON, Tenn. – Solid pitching and late-inning heroics proved to be the winning combination as Union College swept the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader from host Bryan College (Tenn.) on Tuesday, winning 6-0 and 3-2.
Heather Keane tied the program career record for saves, recording two on the day for her fifth and sixth. She is tied with Megan Baldwin, who notched six saves for the Bulldogs from 2014-16.
The wins improve Union to 14-9 overall and 4-0 in the AAC, while Bryan falls to 5-11 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
GAME ONE – UNION 6, BRYAN 0
The Bulldog offense got going early and then let the pitching and defense do the rest in the opener. Marissa West got Union on the board in the second inning with a two-run triple. Union took a 3-0 lead in the fifth when Juli King scored on a fielder’s choice.
Union put together a three-run rally in the sixth to give it a six-run cushion. Ariel Dailey lined a run-scoring single, and Ashley Sain delivered a two-run single.
Bryan threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. However, Keane induced a popup to short to end the scare. Keane sat the Lions down in order in the seventh to seal the 6-0 victory.
Madison Williams earned the victory, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing no runs on three hits and five walks with six strikeouts.
BULLDOGS OF THE GAME
King went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored at the plate and had four puts and two assists defensively. Lily Ayers finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and double as well.
GAME TWO – UNION 3, BRYAN 2
Grace Nichols tossed a gem of a game, but it took a wild, seventh-inning rally for the Bulldogs to pull out the win.
Down 2-0 in the seventh, Union had one on and two out when Ariel Dailey reached safely after her flyball was dropped in right field, allowing West to score. King followed with a single, and an error in the outfield gave Dailey enough time to come around and score. Sain completed the comeback with an RBI single, scoring King to make it 3-2.
Keane came into pitch the bottom of the frame and gave up a leadoff single. After getting the next two batters out, Keane walked Allison Walker to extend the frame. However, Keane struck out Austyn Durham looking on three pitches, locking up the one-run Bulldog victory.
Nichols earned the win, surrendering two runs on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts in six innings of work.
BULLDOG OF THE GAME
Going 2-for-4 at the plate, Sain came through with the game-winning RBI.
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“Today truly showed how strong and relentless this group is on all platforms,” said head coach Nicole Thompson. “I am so proud of every single one of them. Playing on the road in this conference and coming away with a swept is huge.
“In the first game, Madison did her thing in the circle while our bats produced behind her. Had a big inning with some clutch two-out hits,” the Bulldog coach continued. “Bryan held us strong the second game. We were hitting balls right at them, and they made a couple great plays. The girls just kept pushing and never gave up. Then, in the seventh, the big time rally got started from a base hit from Marissa followed by Ariel getting her in. Then it just continued on down the lineup from there. They believed in each other and passed the bat.
“Grace did a great job in the circle, and words can’t express how big Heather is in that saving spot. She lives for today and she did what she does best.”
BULLDOG NOTES
- Going 4-for-6 on the day, King extended her hit streak to 12 games.
- Dailey picked up hits in each contest, putting her hit streak at 11 games.
- The Bulldogs did not commit an error in either game today, marking the first time they have done so in a doubleheader this season. Union is 9-2 when not committing an error.
- Union was held without an extra-base hit in the 3-2 win, snapping a streak of 21 games with at least one.
- The Bulldogs stretched its win streak to seven games, equally their longest streak from last season.
NEXT FOR THE BULLDOGS
Union returns home on Wednesday to host Montreat College (N.C.) in another conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
