KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Campbellsville defeated Shawnee State in the first elimination game of the day, 4-3, despite a sloppy seventh inning. Freshman Shelby Ray started the CU run in the bottom of the third with a deep double to right-center and the first two RBIs of the game.
Fellow freshman Victoria Decker pitched all seven innings for the Lady Tigers, allowing no runs until Shawnee's seventh-inning spree.
CU only managed one hit in its initial two at-bats until junior third baseman Brooke Boils singled to right-center to begin the bottom of the third. Senior Emma Napier followed, reaching base on a walk. Ray was next to the plate, taking Shawnee pitcher Ali Thompson to a full-count before smashing the ball to right-center for a double and two RBIs (2-0 CU).
Campbellsville added another run in the fifth after a Napier single combined with a Shawnee error and Allie Thompson's wild pitch allowed the run (3-0 CU).
It seemed the Lady Tigers had secured the game until Holly Brabson began a Bear no-out rally in the seventh with a single to center. Campbellsville infield errors combined with a couple more Shawnee singles quickly brought the score to a tie, 3-3.
Napier was again walked to begin the bottom of the seventh, followed by a Ray single to short. Sophomore Kristin Benton proved to be the game-saver, hitting a deep double and nearly a homer to left field, scoring Napier from second base, the only run needed to take the victory, 4-3.
Ray and Sara Paragon led the Lady Tigers with two hits apiece. Napier, Boils, Benton, Taylor Borders, and Adrean Jordan each managed one. Ray had two RBIs, Benton with one.
Campbellsville will take a break this afternoon as UVa-Wise and Georgetown face each other in the second elimination game of the day followed by Lindsey Wilson and Cumberland University in the winner's bracket final.
The Lady Tigers will meet the winner of Wise and Georgetown at 4:00 EST to compete for the semi-finals of the loser's bracket.
The victor of that game will face the loser of Lindsey and Cumberland for the loser's bracket final.
The championship game will be held tomorrow.
