PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern softball hosted Shawnee State in a best of three series at Royce Hughes Field on Thursday. UTS and SSU did not meet during the regular season. The Firehawks swept the Bears on Thursday night to advance to an MSC Quarterfinal matchup next Thursday in Bowling Green, Ky. UTS won game one 5-0 and took the nightcap 8-0 in six innings.

In game one, UTS jumped out to an early lead scoring a pair in the first to lead 2-0. Hayley Parrott, Bree Brady, and Samantha King each drove in a run in the fourth to cushion the Firehawks led to the eventual final 5-0. Savannah Sands (6-9) kept the Bears handcuffed only allowing four hits and only issuing one free pass.

UTS struck early again in game two when leadoff Parrott launched a solo shot over the centerfield fence. UTS would add a second run in the first frame on a wild pitch as King would score. Shelby Clifton drove in a run in the third to pad the lead to 3-0. In the fourth, UTS would take advantage of a two-out error by SSU. Karla Pena and Haley Barnes would score on the error to extend the lead to 5-0. In the fifth, Sands would draw a throw from the Bears defense to allow Brady to cross the plate. In the final inning, Macey Ciramella would be plated on a sacrifice fly by Sydney Self to increase the lead to 7-0. Brady walked the game off with a fielders choice and Allie Toone slid into home safely. King (12-5) threw six innings allowing seven hits.

UTS improved to 25-23 on the year, and SSU fell to 27-13.

MSC OPENING ROUND SCORES

Campbellsville defeated Pikeville 11-1, 11-3.

Georgetown defeated Cumberlands 2-1.

Lindsey Wilson defeated Thomas More 3-0.

Cumberland and Bethel did not play.

NEXT UP

UTS will await the parings for the MSC Quarterfinals. Teams five advancing teams will be reseeded by regular-season win percentage. The six-teams remaining will compete in a double-elimination format at South Warren High School in Bowling Green, Ky.