BETHANY, W. Va. – Franciscan softball stepped out of conference play for a make-up day doubleheader against Bethany College (W.V.), losing to the Bison 11-3 and 21-3.

While pitching for the Lady Barons got off to a rocky start, with sophomore pitcher Jordan Cunningham giving up nine runs in the first inning of game one, the team did begin to do more damage at the plate than in past games.

In game one, the hitting was spread evenly throughout the lineup with six different Lady Barons getting one hit apiece. With players getting on base, the team looked to their top hitters to drive in runs which freshman Lindsay Finch and senior Hailey Wesselman were both able to do.

Wesselman, second in the conference in hitting percentage, was moved from clean-up to the lead-off spot and finished the day with one hit and one RBI.

"We figured we might as well try to get her as many at bats as possible and maybe help jump-start the offense a little bit," head coach James Walker said. "She's doing her part offensively to get on base and drive in runs."

Freshman outfielder Cecilia Lademan, who earned a hit and a run in each of the two games, was able to consistently get on base for players like Finch and Wesselman to drive in.

"Cecilia played really well today," Walker said. "She's doing really well at learning how to slap. She's coming along."

Walker chose to rest Cunningham in game two after she pitched game one and two full games the previous day. With the sophomore in the field, the pitching duties were left to Wesselman and Finch, neither of whom pitch as their primary position.

"We have three more games this week and I could start to see the fatigue in her, and in Annie who caught the two games yesterday and the first game today," Walker said. "So they were just a little tired."

While the Lady Baron's hitting improved, their fielding took a step back. The team committed four errors in each game after an error-free effort against PItt.-Bradford the day before.

"Our young kids are still a little timid at times, and when you play timid the ball starts to play you," Walker said.

The team will try and get back to their error-free ways while keeping up the improved hitting as they host La Roche College on April 22 at 3 and 5 pm.