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The Bearcat softball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the Presidents' Athletic Conference softball playoffs, remaining alive in the tournament.

The Westminster Titans defeated Saint Vincent by a 3-0 score in the opening game, but SVC was a 3-1 winner in game two over Bethany College.

In game one, SVC had an opportunity in the top of the first inning, as Shelby Noel singled with two outs then moved to second when Lauren Miller reached on an error. However, both runners were stranded as Westminster pitcher Jazmyn Rohrer ended up striking out the side.
 
In the second, Emily Duerr singled to lead off the inning, but was erased when a sacrifice bunt attempt was popped up and caught, with a throw to first resulting in a double play.
 
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third, when a two-out Westminster double was followed by an RBI single, putting the Titans in front, 1-0.
 
An inning later, a 2-run home run by Nicole Anderson over the right-center field fence gave Westminster a 3-0 lead.
 
The Bearcats struggled to produce offense against Rohrer, with no hits in the third or fourth innings. In the fifth, Duerr again singled to lead off, and Morgan Rittenhouse followed by reaching on an error.  A Shae Robson sacrifice bunt moved the runners ahead, but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning.
 
Noel's second single of the day came with one out in the 6th, but once again Rohrer shut down the Bearcat bats, keeping the 3-run lead into the final inning.
 
Once again, Rohrer shut down the Bearcats in the 7th to secure the win, giving up just four hits for the day while striking out 9.  Alona Sleith (6-3) pitched well but took the loss for the Bearcats, giving up six hits.

For Saint Vincent (21-9), it was just the second time this season that the team was shut out, but both games have been consecutive, and both have been to Westminster (26-7).

In game two, Riley Assalone got the start in the circle and kept the Bethany Bison off the board through the first four innings, giving up three hits.
 
Meanwhile, SVC was held hitless into the bottom of the 4th inning by Bethany's Sam Binkley.   In the bottom of the fourth, Noel reached on an error to lead off, then moved to second when Lauren Miller was hit by a pitch. With one out, Duerr grounded out to the right side, but both runners advanced.  Robson then followed with the Bearcats' first hit of the game, a single up the middle that scored Noel to put SVC in front, 1-0.
 
In the fifth, Rachel Harenchar led off with a single, and was replaced on the basepaths by Kelly Flaherty, who reached on a fielder's choice that erased Harenchar.  Flaherty then stole second, and scored when Noel hit a double just inside the left field line.
 
Miller followed with a single that drove home Noel, making the score 3-0.
 
The Bison threatened in the 7th inning, scoring a run, but Assalone closed the door with a groundout to end the game, extending the Bearcat season and ending the season for the Bison.

Assalone (9-2) scattered six hits, walking one and striking out two.  
 
The Bearcats (22-9) will return to action on Saturday (May 5) at 11AM, opponent to be determined, either Thomas More or Westminster.