SIOUX CITY, Iowa  — (BOX SCORE | BRACKET) Lady Tiger softball made a valiant comeback in the seventh inning against five-seed Central Methodist but was unable to hold on in extra innings, falling 6-5.

Campbellsville will now play William Carey (Miss.) Saturday morning at 11 a.m. ET. The game will be broadcasted live on the CU Sports Network – 88.7 WLCU – also on www.WLCUFM.com.

The Lady Tigers were trailing, 4-1 going to their final out in the game but Brianna Scott sparked the CU rally with a two-out hit-by-pitch. Hailey Szpila walked and Kristin Benton delivered a missile past the Central Methodist second basemen to score Scott from second. Fellow senior Kendyl Ahrens picked up the biggest hit of her career with a two-RBI single to center field tying the game at four.

"Two outs, top of the lineup and our kids have that never-say-die attitude," said CU coach Shannon Wathen. "We fought until the end and two seniors (Kristin Benton and Kendyl Ahrens) both came up big with hits to tie the game at four."

Leadoff walks came back to haunt Campbellsville in the final inning. Reliever Neely Quint (19-6) allowed a free pass to Jessie Wilmes to start the inning and Hannah Blackmon doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. Michele Rupard was intentionally walked to load the bases and Lauren Geringer delivered the game-winning single to left field scoring both Wilmes and Blackmon.

"I really thought the momentum swung our way in the seventh inning after we tied the game," said Wathen. "But then Neely (Quint) comes in and walks the leadoff batter to give them life in their dugout. She pitched really well and it was a learning experience for her, but I told her that we cannot walk the leadoff batter in that situation after we gain all the momentum."

Campbellsville did not give in, though, and Markie Smith led off the bottom half of the eighth inning with her ninth home run of the season cutting the lead to, 6-5. 

But freshman Erin Enke came in to relieve Jocie Glaze (18-1) and picked up her third save of the season, setting CU down 1-2-3 after the home run.

Ahrens led CU at the plate, going 2-for-4 and driving in two runs. K. Benton, Shelby Ray and Smith all picked up the other three hits for Campbellsville.

Starter Victoria Decker allowed four runs, three walks and struck out one batter. Decker struggled with her command, throwing 105 pitches in 4.2 innings. Quint finished throwing 3.1 innings and allowing seven hits and two runs.

"I thought Victoria (Decker) did a great job," said Wathen. "She was unable to get ahead and that hurt us because we couldn't get to our movement pitches. The zone was tight but it went both ways. We both had opportunities but they came through more than we did today."

Central Methodist started the scoring after Decker had set down six-straight batters and recorded two quick outs in the fifth inning. The middle of the order did the damage for CMU, as Michele Rupard doubled and advanced to third base on a single by Geringer. Bri Boatwright and Alyssa Lilly both picked up RBI-singles off Decker to push the Eagles ahead 3-0 before Quint replaced Decker.

Quint allowed a single off the glove of a diving Shelby Ray to push CMU ahead, 4-0.

The 2-3-4-5 hitters for CMU picked up nine of the 14 hits for Central Methodist. Lilly went 3-for-5, and Bri Boatwright, Lauren Geringer and Michele Rupard both picked up two hits apiece.