PULASKI, Tenn. – A pair of one-run loses Saturday spoiled opening weekend for Campbellsville University softball at the Martin Methodist College Meltdown. The deciding runs came with one CU at bat remaining both times, as Taylor University edged the Lady Tigers, 5-4, to start the morning and then Park University pulled out a 4-3 win.
Taylor 5, Campbellsville 4
In the first game, Campbellsville posted a pair of one-out singles in the third and loaded the bases before stranding all three.
CU starting pitcher Taylor Wroe exited the circle with a scoreless game entering the fifth. Courtney Turpin allowed three runs in relief off four hits and an error. Wroe took back over with two outs in the fifth and allowed one walk before getting a pop fly to end the inning.
The Lady Tigers rallied with a three-run sixth inning after three hits and a trio of miscues by Taylor. Brooke Boils led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. Heather Oakley singled in Boils with one out to put the Lady Tigers on the scoreboard. Sara Paragon drove in Oakley with an RBI single and Alyssa Barker scored on a sac fly by Adrean Jordan.
Kelsi Pardue took over for Wroe in the seventh with the game tied, 3-3, and gave up three hits, including a two-RBI double by Caitlin Vukorpa.
CU managed to get a run back in the bottom of the seventh after Emma Napier knocked a one-out single. Taylor Borders drove her in with two outs, but Oakley grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
Point 4, Campbellsville 3
In the second game, Napier led off the top of the first with a single to spark a two-run inning. Barker doubled in Napier and Borders for the early lead.
Pardue gave up a leadoff home run in the second to Point's Megan Hull, but CU got the run back in the third after back-to-back doubles by Boils and Borders. Point chipped away at the Lady Tigers' lead in the fourth, when Allyson Silva singled to score Kristin Sharp, who reached base on an error to start the inning.
Point collected another homer in the sixth, this time a two-run shot by Kayla Kirkland to take a 4-3 lead. Pitcher Jordan Edge allowed a one-out walk before working out of the inning with a fielder's choice and strike out.
Pardue recorded both losses on the day, pitching a combined seven inning and allowing five earned runs off nine hits and five walks. She struck out seven against Park.
CU (1-3) will return to action Feb. 21-23 in the Arctic Blast Invitational in Decatur, Ala. The Lady Tigers will open the three-day trip with a doubleheader against Tennessee Wesleyan University at 6 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 21.
