Bethel (Tenn.) sophomore catcher Emmi Thurmond (Franklin-Simpson Class of 2014) helped the No. 5-seeded Wildcats pull off an opening-round upset with a 5-1 victory over Brenau (Ga.) in the Southern States Athletic Conference Softball Championship on Thursday at Dean Fain Park in Montgomery, Ala.

Thurmond finished the day 1 for 3 at the plate for Bethel (33-19).

The Wildcats advance to a winner’s bracket matchup with top seed William Carey (Miss). on Friday. The tournament is double-elimination format.

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Lindsey Wilson senior third baseman Ryan Harper (Logan County Class of 2012) helped the Blue Raiders claim a 5-2 victory Thursday over visiting Cumberlands in a best-of-three, opening-round series in the Mid-South Conference Baseball Tournament.

Harper was 1 for 3 and scored a run for No. 2 seed Lindsey Wilson (34-20), which would advance to next weekend’s MSC Tournament Final in Bowling Green with a win.

The Blue Raiders face No. 7 seed Cumberlands in Game 2 on Friday.

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Calhoun (Ala.) Community College sophomore third baseman Ty Pitts (South Warren Class of 2014) was 2 for 3 and scored a pair of runs in Thursday’s 9-2 home win over Shelton State (Ala). Pitts also stole a base in the win.

Calhoun (29-20) is back in action Saturday with a doubleheader at Shelton State.

– Jeff Nations