BLUEFIELD, Va. -- The Bluefield College softball team put together a pair of solid outings in its home opening doubleheader against Truett-McConnell College, Saturday, but the visiting Bears claimed the 4-1 and 6-2 victories.

Bluefield drops to 0-14 overall and 0-6 in Appalachian Athletic Conference matchups with the losses, Truett-McConnell improved to 12-14 on the year while leveling its AAC mark at 3-3.

Game 1
Michaela Carter led off the bottom of a second with a double to deep right-center field. The freshman narrowly missed a home run, as the ball knocked off the top of the fence to stay in play. Megan Arrington followed with a single to right field, giving Bluefield the 1-0 lead.

Brienna Sparks had a strong start in the circle, holding the Bears hitless through three innings. Truett-McConnell logged back-to-back hits to open the fourth, but a grounder to Katelyn Pennington at second allowed the freshman to turn the double play, tagging the bag and quickly sending it to Tianna Macies at first. Sparks then added a strikeout to strand a runner on third and keep TMC scoreless.

Another double play helped BC out of the fifth inning unscathed. After a leadoff single, a bunt attempt was quickly fielded by catcher Morgan Stephens and tossed to Pennington who covered first. Pennington then quickly tossed it on to Kasey Holcomb at second, where the senior tagged out the TMC runner who over-ran the base and couldn't make it back. Sparks added another strikeout.

Bluefield stranded a pair in the bottom half, and the Bears took advantage of holding the Lady Rams in that frame, as they scored two in the sixth to claim the 2-1 lead.

TMC added two more in the seventh on a two-run home run, and held BC scoreless in the bottom of the seventh for the come-from-behind win.

Sparks tossed the complete game, striking out four in the loss. Taylor Nix claimed the win, allowing the one run on five hits while also striking out four.

Holcomb had two of Bluefield's five hits in the opener.

Game 2
In the finale, the Bears scored in each of the first three innings to take a 5-0 advantage.

Bluefield came back with a pair of runs in the third. Holcomb hit her first career home run, while Morgan Sawyers reached on an error and was knocked home on a Macias single to make it 5-2.

The Bears added one more run in the sixth, while BC was held hitless over the final four frames in the 6-2 defeat.

Laura Craven put in the complete game for Bluefield, allowing eight hits and five earned runs. Harlee Grogan picked up the win for Truett-McConnell.

Bluefield returns to action on Sunday afternoon, hosting No. 19 Reinhardt for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.