The University of the Cumberlands (UC) Softball team opened up their 2012 season on Saturday as they hosted Tennessee Wesleyan College (TWC) for a doubleheader. The Patriots fell to the Bulldogs in both games, 8-0 in game one and 8-6 in game two, giving them a 0-2 record to open the season. 

In game one, the Bulldogs got an early lead in the first inning putting the Patriots down 4-0 with two runs coming off an untimely error by the Patriots. The Bulldogs put another three runs on the board in the fourth and another run in the fifth inning. The game ended after 5 innings with a mercy rule at 8-0.  Angela Steuer (Miamisburg, OH) went the distance in game one for the Patriots, but didn't come away with the season opening line she wanted.  Steuer went 5 innings allowing 8 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. 

The Patriots came out early with a vengeance in game two of the doubleheader and took an early 3-0 lead in the 3rd.  The Patriots added two more in the 5th after TWC hung a run in the top half of the inning.  UC led the Bulldogs 5-1, but TWC exploded for 7 in the 7th including a grand slam to give them the lead they needed to hang on and sweep UC by a final score of 8-6. 

Brittny Lovelace (Middletown, OH) had a great game going 3 of 4 with a double, a home run, and three runs batted in.  Pitcher Jessica Speake (Lancaster, KY) had a solid day at the plate as well as in the circle.  Speake went 2 of 3 at the plate with 2 runs batted in.  She also went 6.1 innings on the mound allowing 3 runs (all earned) on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4.

The Patriots will be back on the diamond on February 22^ndagainst Lincoln Memorial University in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 pm.

For more information on the Patriot softball team as well as other Patriot athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com.

Article provided by Courtney Hixson, UC Multimedia and Athletic Services Student Assistant