Box Score

DANVILLE, Ky. – The Hendrix College softball lost their first round game of the Southern Athletic Association Tournament 2-1 in 13 innings to Birmingham-Southern College on Friday. The game was the longest in program history for the sixth-seeded Warriors (21-18).

Hendrix scored their only run in the top of the first. With one out, sophomore shortstop Michaela Larabee and freshman catcher Jill Sikes had back-to-back singles, followed by a walk issued to senior pitcher Ashley Halbert to load the bases. Freshman first baseman Shelby Anderson followed with a ground out to second, allowing Larbee to score.

The Warriors remained up 1-0 until the third-seeded Panthers (25-16) scored in the bottom of the fifth. Pitcher Bethany Fronk singled with one out and moved to second on a walk issued to shortstop Taylor Bassett. Fronk advanced to third on a fly ball by Alyssa Statham then scored on an error on the cutoff throw, tying the game.

Hendrix had a chance to score in the eighth when junior second baseman Catelyn Gibbs singled and stole second with one out. After a Larabee strikeout, Sikes followed with a base hit down the right field line, but Gibbs was thrown out at home by BSC right fielder Katelyn Murray to end the inning.

Fronk hit an infield single to lead off the 13th and after a walk to Bassett, Statham sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Third baseman Brittany Berkopec hit an infield single to load the bases with one out. Murray followed with a ground ball to Larabee at short. Larabee tried to throw Fronk out at the plate, but the throw was high, giving the Panthers the 2-1 win.

Sikes recorded three of the Warriors six hits, with Gibbs, Larabee and junior left fielder Tiffany Hubbard adding one each. Gibbs also stole a base. Fronk had three hits and scored both runs for BSC. Bassett, the SAA's leader in average, home runs and RBI, was walked an NCAA Division III record seven times.

Fronk (19-13) allowed six hits, one run, a walk and struck out eight in 13 innings. Halbert (10-12) threw a school record 12.1 innings on 199 pitches, and gave up 13 hits, 10 walks, no earned runs and struck out four.

The Panthers left 21 runners on base.

Hendrix will face seventh-seeded Sewanee at 9 a.m. tomorrow in an elimination game.