GULF SHORES, Ala. — After managing one hit through 10 innings today, CU's bats finally came alive, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Tigers dropped a couple of one-run games on Day 1 of the Gulf Coast Invitational.

Auburn Montgomery 1, Campbellsville 0

The No. 1 team in NAIA softball needed a two-out, run-scoring single from Kayla Hale to defeat Campbellsville 1-0 in the first game of the Gulf Coast Invitational.

Victoria Decker (3-2) was pretty good, but really good in the clutch through 6 ½ innings. The junior pitcher wormed her way out of jams in four innings, but could not do the same when Katie Spain tripled, giving AUM a runner on third with one out in the last at-bat.

Decker ended up allowing eight hits, but struck out eight — many of those coming with two runners on and no outs. She stranded 10 AUM runners and did not walk a batter.

CU (7-2) was able to produce only four base runners. Shelby Ray's bunt single in the third was the only thing that stood in the way of Cassie Jones' no-hitter. Rebecca Miller walked in the fourth and Erin Benton was offered free passes in the fifth and seventh innings.

Zatoria Leavell, pinch running for Benton in the fifth, did steal second with one out, but Adrean Jordan and Destiney Taul became strikeout victims. The Lady Tigers had 12 to go down in that manner. Jones had 76 Ks in 51 innings pitched coming into the game and now has 88 in 57 innings.

William Penn 6, Campbellsville 5

Campbellsville (7-3) fell behind 4-0 to (RV) William Penn but never could push across a tying run.

Neely Quint (4-1) fell victim to a couple of errors and a three-run home run that gave William Penn its 4-0 lead.

But Campbellsville would score three times in the fourth when a Kristin Benton triple and Haley Szpila single plated a couple of runs. Erin Benton's single scored Szpila.

William Penn used a couple of no-out errors in the bottom of the fourth to score the run it would need to hold off CU.

The Lady Tigers would bounce back with a two-spot in the top of the fifth when Brianna Scott's triple scored Shelby Ray and Kristin Benton's second hit of the game plated Scott.

Campbellsville would get a runner to second in the top of the sixth when Adrean Jordan doubled. But successive strikeouts by Markie Smith and Destiney Taul left her stranded.

Quint gave up six hits, walked two and struck out one. Benton had a 2-for-3 day at the plate and two RBIs.

CU continues tomorrow in the Gulf Coast Invitational, Gulf Shores, Ala. as the Lady Tigers take on Belhaven at 5 ET and Central Methodist at 7:00.

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