BLUEFIELD, Va. -- Sophomore Brienna Sparks helped the Bluefield softball team celebrate Senior Day with a split against Kentucky Christian University, Saturday, striking out 10 batters in game two en route to the 5-2 non-conference win.

The team honored its four seniors--Laura Craven, Kasey Holcomb, Victoria Pietsch and Priscilla Ruiz--during the day. Unfortunately, Ruiz was not present for the ceremony between games, as the catcher left early in game one after suffering an injury in a play at the plate.

With the split, Bluefield moves its record to 5-27, but is 5-5 in its last 10 outings. The 1-1 day takes KCU to 16-5 on the season.

Game 1
Kentucky Christian's Katelyn Miller (11-0) lifted the visitors to the win in game one, as KCU scored in every inning for a 15-5 win. Bluefield had a three-run second and two-run third to pull within 6-5, but the Knights plated nine runs in the next two frames.

Bluefield scored on a double steal, off a wild-throw on a pick-off attempt at third base and on a Holcomb double in the third inning, while Michaela Carter blasted a two-run homer to right-center field in the fourth.

However, four Knights tallied multiple RBI performances en route to the 5-inning win.

Game 2
In game two, Sparks set the tone from the start by striking out two in the first inning.

Bluefield took a 3-0 lead in the second, tallying four hits and taking advantage of a KCU error. Katelyn Pennington began a two-out rally for BC, singling in Carter from second base. Jessica Crabtree beat-out an infield single and Kena Denton followed with a single deep to center field to knock in Pennington for a 2-0 lead. Crabtree then scored when Ali Bartley reached on a wild throw.

A pair of doubles for KCU put the visitors on the board in the third, and they threatened again in the fourth. However, with the bases loaded, Sparks struck out a pair to get out of the jam.

Bluefield tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. Pennington reached on an error and was brought home on another single from Crabtree. Denton added another base hit to advance Crabtree to third, from which she would score on a wild pitch for a 5-1 edge.

A walk followed by a double plated one for KCU in the seventh, but Sparks' ninth and 10th strikeouts of the ballgame sealed the BC win.

Bluefield returns to action on Sunday, hosting Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Columbia College at 2 p.m.