PULASKI, Tenn. — Campbellsville softball rode the shoulders of the Benton girls (Erin and Kristin) on opening day, picking up two wins ... 11-3 against Grace College and a rain-shortened 3-2 victory over Freed-Hardeman.

 

Erin Benton reached base safely two times and drove in three runs in the opening-game win and then her sister, Kristin, had two hits and two RBIs in the second game — which was halted in the fifth inning.

 

As a matter of fact, the Bentons collected six of Campbellsville's 13 hits on the day.

 

Campbellsville 11, Grace College 3

 

CU extracted its bats from the deep freeze on Friday afternoon at the Martin Methodist Meltdown, slicing out six hits against Grace, run-ruling the Lancers 11-3 in six innings. The hits were combined with a like number of Grace errors that allowed Campbellsville to break open the scoreless game in the third inning.

 

It took a couple of innings for the aluminum to heat up. In that decisive third, CU crossed home plate seven times on three hits and three Grace errors.

 

Grace did dot the scoreboard with three runs in the fifth, aided by a CU error.

 

Sara Paragon had three RBIs on a double in the third. Adrean Jordan also had a hit.

 

Taylor Wroe was credited with the win after four shutout innings, allowing three hits. Victoria Decker came on in relief in the fifth and was touched for the three Grace runs.

 

Campbellsville 3, Freed-Hardeman 2

 

The Lady Tigers scored all their runs in the first two frames, stranding five through 4 ½ innings.

 

Shelby Ray singled with one out in the first and then with two outs she scored on consecutive singles by Sara Paragon and Heather Oakley.

 

Freed (0-2) went ahead 2-1 in the top of the second when starting pitcher Courtney Turpin gave up a leadoff double to Allie Carpenter and a walk to Kamara Trice. Paragon was charged with a passed ball that allowed one run, and then a single by Lauren Bradley plated the go-ahead score.

 

Adrean Jordan singled to lead off the bottom of the second. After Alyssa Barker reached on a throwing error by pitcher Taylor Hill, Kristin Benton sent a two-out triple to right-center, putting CU (2-0) back in the driver's seat.

 

Turpin set the Lady Lions down in order in the the third and then saw relief help from fellow senior Martina Riney.

 

Riney stranded Carpenter in the fourth after her leadoff double. The Owensboro native coaxed a pop up to second and struck out of a batter before Natalie Nelson flied out to left.

 

Riney worked her way out of trouble again in the fifth, walking the leadoff batter and then falling victim to an error to third on a bunt by Kohnley Wade. But Riney struck out the final two batters after getting the first out on a sacrifice bunt attempt to third by Jessica Weeks.

 

Turpin and Riney allowed only three hits and combined for five strikeouts.

 

The Lady Tigers outhit Freed 7-3. Paragon and Kristin Benton had four of the seven with Ray, Jordan and Barker getting the other three.

 

Saturday's schedule has been altered slightly because of the weather. Campbellsville will Meet Bryan College a 3 p.m. EST and Benedictine University at Springfield at 7 p.m. EST.

 

To follow Lady Tiger Softball go to Twitter @CvilleLTS or @CvilleTigers, Facebook — CampbellsvilleTigers or at www.campbellsvilletigers.com.