ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – The Hanover softball team opened play this afternoon as part of the Pioneer Classic, competing against highly competitive Illinois Wesleyan and nationally ranked Muskingum.
 
GAME ONE
Hanover opened the day taking on Illinois Wesleyan, falling in the contest 13-2. Junior Kensie Bradley (Greenfield, Ind.) paced the Panthers at the dish with two hits and an RBI.
 
The Blue and Red found themselves on the wrong end of a two run deficit when Bradley singled to left field scoring freshman Lauren Beaman (Indianapolis, Ind.) to cut the difference to 2-1.
 
However, Illinois Wesleyan continued to dominate at the dish using a four run second inning to claim the 6-1 advantage.
 
The Panthers final bright spot came in the top of the third inning with freshman Carson Kruse (Fort Branch, Ind.) hitting a sacrifice fly scoring junior Kendra Hutchison (Lafayette, Ind.).
 
Hanover surrendered seven more runs dropping the non-conference matchup.
 
GAME TWO
The Blue and Red fell to no. 24 ranked Muskingum 13-7 after leading the Fighting Muskies early.
 
Hanover surged ahead in the first inning as Hutchison singled scoring Bradley before a Beaman double plated two more Panther runners, 3-0.
 
However, Muskingum erased the deficit in the next half inning using a four-run outburst followed by a  one run third inning for the 5-3 advantage.
 
Sophomore Ava Hilgenhold (Tell City, Ind.) tallied her first RBI of the weekend in the bottom half of the third inning scoring Beaman to pull within 5-4.
 
But the Fighting Muskies deemed too much plating eight more runs in rout to the 13-7 victory.
 
Kruse led the charge with a game-high three RBI and a homerun.