OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Bethel College softball team opened up the Hosea Bell Red Dirt classic with a doubleheader against Langston University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University. The Thresher picked up two wins in big fashion as they beat the Lions 5-0 before run-ruling the Aggies 10-1 in six innings.
 
The Threshers jumped on the Lions early as they struck for two runs in the top of the first inning as Ashley Bodine drove in Alexis Enslinger before Dakota Piovesan doubled down the left field line to score Meehlia Mendiola.
 
Neither side scored again until the fourth inning when Bethel pushed two more runs across as Piovesan scored on a batted ball from Ella Caudill, who reached on an error. Katherin Meiries brought Caudill in with a sacrifice fly later in the inning.
 
Bethel added one more to their total in the fifth as Piovesan recorded another RBI bringing in Claire Broxterman.
 
Gracie Higgins, Jesse McMichael and Emily Demartino combined for a 3 hit shutout, walking just one batter and striking out five.
 
Piovesan led the Threshers offensively going 3 for 4 from the plate with a double, 2 RBI, a run and a stolen base.
 
In their second game of the day, the Threshers once again jumped at their opportunities in the opening frame as their first two batters reached base safely.
 
With runners on the corners, Bethel executed a double steal and Mendiola took second and Enslinger home. 
 
Mendiola later scored when Madelaine Debs singled through the left side.
 
After a three-up three-down bottom half from Debs, the Threshers got rolling once again as they pushed three runs across in the top of the second to lead the Aggies 5-0. 
 
Bethel manufactured another run in the third inning as their leadoff batter reached base for the third straight inning. This time Taylor Sanfillippo did the damage and she drove in Debs putting BC up 6-0.
 
The Threshers were held scoreless in top of the fourth as OPSU pushed across their first run of the ball game on a one-out sacrifice fly after their leadoff reached on a double to right field.
 
Bethel was able to extend their lead in the sixth as Mendiola got things rolling with a hit by pitch. Cassie Albin followed that up with a single up the middle to set up Broxterman who smacked a two RBI double to left field.
 
Debs then would reach on an error that would score Morgan Marsh, who pinch ran for Broxterman. Piovesan followed that up with a double to right center scoring Hailey Bethel who pinch ran for Debs.
 
With the Threshers leading 10-1, they just needed to get out of the bottom half of the inning without giving up more than two runs, which they were successful in doing to enforce the eight-after-five-innings run rule.
 
Debs threw all 6 innings for the Threshers as she gave up six hits, one earned run while striking out four and not walking a batter.

Albin, Debs, Piovesan and Sanfillippo each recorded multiple hits as the Threshers put up a 13 hit performance in the win.
 
Bethel will be back in action tomorrow for day two of the Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic as they take on Oklahoma City at 12:30 PM and SAGU at 3:00 PM.