(Chelsea Update would like to thank Jeff Connelly for the information in this story.)
On Tuesday, May 22 the Chelsea Bulldogs softball team played a double header with the visiting and Lincoln Railspliters.
The games were significant in that they would determine who would be the SEC White Division Champion for 2018. Going into the games Chelsea held a slim a two-game lead over Lincoln.
In game 1, Chelsea grabbed the lead in the second inning when, following a lead-off single by Maddie Vasquez, Grace Bush crushed a two-strike pitch over the center field fence giving Chelsea a 2-0.
Pitcher Maddie Kemp held the opponents scoreless until the fifth inning when Lincoln pushed across its only run of the game.
In the sixth inning, the Lady Bulldogs erupted for 4 runs. The scoring started when Alise Hale drove a ball over the right field fence for her 10th homerun of the season.
Following Hale’s homerun, Chelsea strung together singles from Peighton Root, Maddie Vasquez and Caroline Hirth along with a Lincoln error to complete the scoring in game one, giving Chelsea a 6-1 win.
Offensively, Chelsea was led by Caroline Hirth who went 3 for 3 at the plate with 1 RBI and Maddie Vasquez who was 2 for 3 in the contest.
Maddie Kemp had a strong pitching performance, pitching all 7 innings, surrendering just 5 hits and 1 earned run, while striking out 10 to earn the win.
The home runs by Grace Bush and Alise Hale bring the team total to 34 homeruns on the season.
In game 2, Chelsea took an early lead and added to the lead throughout as the result of good hitting by Maddie Vasquez ( 4 for 4), Peighton Root (2 for 3), Alise Hale (3 for 4)and Sydnee Liedel (2 for 4).
With Chelsea maintaining an 8-4 lead in the 7th inning, Lincoln came to life stringing together several hits, combine with several Chelsea mistakes to tie the game at 8.
In the 7th, Maddie Kemp lead off the inning with a walk and was sacrificed to second base by Senior Phoebe Kahler. With two outs and the game on the line, Alise Hale stepped to the plate and promptly singled to center, driving in Kemp from second, securing the victory for the Bulldogs.
Pitcher Maddie Kemp, who threw both games of the double header, was credited her 18th win of the season.
The sweep of Lincoln runs Chelsea’s record to 29-5-1 and gives them their second straight SEC Championship.
