Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BLUEFIELD, Va. – The Bluefield College softball team earned its first Mid-South Conference win on Friday, taking the first game of its doubleheader against Shawnee State, 3-2. The Bears took game two for the split, coming from behind for the 3-2 win in 10 innings.
 
Kasey Holcomb had a pair of hits in the opener along with one RBI, while Natasha Smith went 3-for-4 at the plate in game two, driving in one.
 
Game One
The game remained scoreless until the top half of the third, as Shawnee State started with back-to-back singles. A third single of the frame led to the Bears' 1-0 lead.
 
Both teams left a pair of runners on second and third in the fourth inning, before Bluefield tallied three runs in the bottom half of the fifth.
 
Ali Bartley started things with a single. With one out, back-to-back singles from Kattie Evans and Holcomb put BC on the board and squared the game 1-1.
 
Aline Uehara was hit by a pitch to load the bases, while a Morgan Stephens single up the middle scored one and Holcomb came around as well as the handoff to the Bears' second baseman was bobbled and allowed her to advance.
 
Bluefield's Brienna Sparks continued to be effective in the circle, and was aided by her defense. In the top of the sixth, the Bears once again threatened. A pair of fielders' choice plays kept Shawnee in check, but a passed ball advanced the Bears' pair of runner to second and third. Sparks snagged a low line drive back at her to close the inning.
 
Holding a two-run cushion in the seventh, Shawnee State's Kirsti Yates sent a home run to centerfield, closing the gap to one. A single followed, but a lineout and a groundout to Anna Davis at first base closed the game, sealing BC's first MSC win as well as Sparks' first collegiate victory.
 
Sparks allowed 10 hits but just two runs. The freshman walked one and struck out four. Allie Chapman took the loss for SSU.
 
Game Two
Bluefield tallied runs in the first and fourth frames, while starting pitcher Uehara worked a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
 
The Bears tallied an infield single in the sixth, then squared the game in top of the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits.
 
Neither team could place a run on the board in the next two frames before the international tie breaker was used beginning in the 10^th.
 
The Bears quickly converted a run, as a single advanced the runner on second base and a sacrifice fly to deep center field made it 3-2, SSU.
 
BC advanced their runner to third with a sacrifice bunt to lead off the bottom half, but a pop out to shallow right-center and a groundout to short closed the game.
 
Uehara took the loss despite striking out 10, giving up three runs on seven hits. The Bears' Miranda Pauley claimed the win, allowing two runs, neither of which were earned, on seven hits. She struck out six.
 
Bluefield continues its MSC play Saturday, hosting University of Rio Grande. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.