Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Victoria Decker pitched herself out of a seventh inning jam, protecting her shutout of Georgia Gwinett, as Campbellsville won both games on Day 1 of the NFCA/NAIA Leadoff Classic.

 

The Lady Tigers, who had to cancel eight games because of weather after going 2-0 at Martin Methodist, got a big first day from senior Kendyl Ahrens and the bottom third of the batting order.

 

Ahrens led CU with three hits, driving in two of the seven runs scored against Lindenwood-Belleville and Gwinett.

 

Campbellsville 5, Lindenwood-Belleville 1

 

The Lady Tigers erupted for a four-run fourth and dispatched Lindenwood-Belleville 5-1 in one of four tournament-opening games at the South Commons Softball Complex.

 

CU (3-0) fell behind 1-0 in the second when the Lady Lynx manufactured a run after Jacqueline Roof's no-out error at short. Lindenwood used a stolen base, a ground out and a fielder's choice to plate pinch runner Ajah Douglas.

 

But Brittany Rippy parked a two-out home run in the bottom of the third to tie the score and the floodgates opened in the bottom of the fourth.

 

That's when Campbellsville sent nine batters to the plate, the big blow coming off the bat of Brianna Scott. The freshman from Summersville, Ky., sent an 0-1 pitch from Brittany Bickelman over the right-centerfield fence for three of the four scores.

                                                                                        

Erin Benton kept the inning going with a two-out walk. Back-to-back singles by Rebecca Miller and Kendyl Ahrens scored Benton, setting the stage for Scott's first collegiate homer.

 

Ahrens had her second single in the sixth, accounting for CU's five hits.

 

Freshman Neely Quint (2-0) went the distance, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out two.

 

Campbellsville 2, Georgia Gwinnett 0

 

Victoria Decker was cruising through six innings against Gwinett, allowing just two hits and two walks.

 

With her team leading, 2-0, after solo runs in the third and fifth innings, she fell victim to a throwing error by Brittany Rippy to start the seventh and then gave up a hit to the circle by Abby Hulsey.

 

But Decker forced a ground out to second, and struck out Ashley Simmons before serving up a grounder to third for the final out.

 

Campbellsville was very efficient with its two hits off Gwinett pitcher Ashley Beyke.

 

Kendyl Ahrens homered to lead off the third and Zatoria Leavell, pinch running for Ahrens after she led off the fifth with a walk, scored when Rippy singled through the hole at short.

 

Decker (2-0) struck out six Gwinett batters.

 

CU has a 12:30 ET game Saturday against South Carolina-Beaufort to end pool play and then will find out who its opponent will be in its fourth game.

 

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