ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. --- Asbury softball traveled to Elizabethtown, Ky. for the second day of competition in the Pioneer Invite. The Eagles faced Defiance College and Wittenberg University. Asbury dropped to Defiance 8-3, and after a hard battle, lost a close game with Wittenberg 5-4.

Game one was a tough competition for the Eagles as they fell to Defiance. Taylor Enlow and Olivia Judy helped AU by each grabbing a homerun against the Yellow Jackets. Freshman Marlee Pettit also contributed, going 2-3 at bat.

The fight against Wittenberg was a close game, with Taylor Sanders going 3-4 at bat with a home run and one RBI. Olivia Judy and Abigail Fletcher each went 2-3 at the plate, and each grabbed one RBI.

Game One | AU 3, DC 8

The Yellow Jackets got an early jump on the Eagles in the top of the first inning, bringing in three runs after a successful offensive inning.
In the bottom of the first, Asbury was able to answer by putting up their first run on the board off of a single by Kyla Bell to bring home Kaitlyn Wilson.

The Eagles remained down 3-1 throughout the second and third inning, which were scoreless for both teams. AU was able to set runners in scoring position int he bottom of the third, but were unable to capitalize on their situation.

Defiance continued to push in the top of the fourth, increasing the score to 5-1 after a home run to left field to bring in two more runs.
AU was able to respond with their own home run by senior captain Olivia Judy to set the score 5-2 going into the top of the fifth.

In the top of the fifth, the Yellow Jackets managed to steal home to bring in an additional run, followed by a strikeout by Eagle pitcher Kaylee Strunk.
In the bottom of the fifth, Taylor Enlow powered a home run to left field a two out rally to increase their score 6-3. 

Defiance responded with two more runs in the top of the sixth to widen the gap 8-3.
In the bottom of the sixth the Eagles were unable to produce a run, leaving their last efforts for the seventh inning.

AU tried to give late efforts but Defiance came out on top, with the Eagles falling to the Yellow Jackets.

The Eagles moved into game two with a record of 4-14.

Game Two | AU 4, WU 5

In the bottom of the first, the Tigers put up the first two runs of the game from a two RBI home run to centerfield.

In the top of the second, AU managed to load the bases but were unable to capitalize.
Wittenberg was also able to load their bases, but were shut down by the Eagles' defense to go into the third inning 2-0.

Asbury started with a single through the left side by Kyla Bell to get their first runner on base in the top of the third. Taylor Sanders then singled to right center and was able to take second off of an error, while moving Bell into scoring position at third. 
It was Natalie Ison's sacrifice fly to left center that brought AU their first run of the game, bringing in Bell.
With Sanders now on third, Olivia Judy shot one down the third base line to bring Sanders home and tie the game 2-2.
The Tigers were unable to answer to the Eagles runs.

The Eagles had a quick fourth inning before Wittenberg was able to put up one more run in the bottom of the fourth.

On a two out rally, Taylor Sanders hit a deep home run to centerfield to tie the game again, 3-3.
Wittenberg responded in the bottom of the fith, bringing in two more runs off of their four hits in the inning to make the score 5-3.

AU continued to press in the top of the sixth, grabbing their last run of the game by an Abby Fletcher single to bring Olivia Palasek home from second.
AU pitcher Kaylee Strunk came in to pitch at the bottom of the sixth, grabbing two strikeouts.

Despite the Eagles two hits in the seventh, they were unable to capitalize, dropping 5-4 to the Tigers.

The Eagles will finish their first day of competition in the Pioneer Invite with a record of 5-15. 


* G1: AU recorded 6 H, 3 RBI, 3 R

* G2: AU grabbed 12 H, 4 RBI, 4 R


* G1: Taylor Enlow | 1 H, 1 HR
* G1: Olivia Judy | 1 H, 1 HR
* G2: Marlee Pettit | 2-3 AB

* G2: Taylor Sanders | 3-4 AB, 1 HR, 1 RBI
* G2: Olivia Judy | 2-3 AB, 1 RBI
* G2: Abigail Fletcher | 2-3 AB, 1 RBI

The Eagles will continue their season on Tuesday, March 21st with a double header against Hanover College at 5pm/7pm.