BETHANY, W.Va. (April 28) - The Saint Vincent softball team dropped both ends of a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at Bethany College. Bethany earned narrow wins in both games, taking game one by a 2-0 score and game two by a 4-3 margin. 

GAME ONE RECAP

In game one, the Bison plated the only run they would need with an RBI single in the bottom of the first. Bethany would go on to add an insurance run with another RBI single in the sixth inning, to make it 2-0. 

Saint Vincent was shut out despite totaling six hits in the opener. The Bearcats weren't without scoring opportunities, leaving a runner in scoring position in both the second and third innings. SVC then left two runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings. 

Junior shortstop Rachel Harenchar led the Bearcats offense with two hits in the loss. Senior pitcher Samantha Emert tallied the lone extra base hit with a double in the fourth. Shelby Noel, Kelly Flaherty and Breanne Wallace recorded the other three hits for SVC in game one. 

Emert suffered the loss in the circle, despite allowing just two runs on seven hits in six innings. The Rockwood, Pa. native recorded nine strikeouts while walking two Bison batters. Emert's season record now sits at 15-6. 

Cassie Weiss tossed the complete game shutout for the Bison. Weiss allowed six hits while striking out eight Bearcats. 

GAME TWO RECAP

Noel, the reigning PAC Hitter of the Week, pushed SVC out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two when she doubled home Flaherty.  

The game remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth inning, when Noel slugged her team-leading 8th home run of the season, giving the Bearcats a 3-0 lead. Unfortunately for SVC, Bethany plated three runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 3-3. The Bison outburst included a two-run home run. 

After the Bearcats left the potential go-ahead run in scoring position in the top of the 7th, the Bison walked off in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly for the win. 

Noel and Morgan Murphy each recorded two hits in the game two loss. Freshman Morgan Rittenhouse added a double for SVC. Junior pitcher Emily Duerr took the loss, allowing four earned runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings of work. Duerr struck out three and walked none. 

Saint Vincent finishes the regular season with an 11-7 conference record and 18-14 overall. Meanwhile, Bethany finishes up at 8-10 in PAC play and 16-22 overall. 

The Bearcats have earned the #3 seed in the upcoming PAC Tournament and will face #2 Westminster College (14-4 PAC, 26-10 overall) on Friday, May 5th. Start times are to be announced. The Bearcats and Titans split a PAC doubleheader earlier this season in Latrobe. 

Thomas More College (18-0 PAC, 32-8 Overall) has secured the top seed and hosting rights for next week's tournament. The host Saints will face #4 seed Thiel College (11-7 PAC, 16-18 overall), who earned a pair of wins over Geneva on Friday to clinch the final tournament spot.