AVE MARIA, Fla. — The #10 Lady Tiger softball team traveled to Florida for a Thursday afternoon season opener, but the weather had other plans. After a cancellation, the Lady Tigers opened their season on Friday afternoon with a double-header against Ave Maria splitting the contests.
Game One: Campbellsville 0, Ave Maria 1
During the bottom of the first inning, the Lady Tigers capitalized on a double play by
Ashby Murt,
Riley Hurst, and
Keely Bowling to keep the Gyrenes from scoring. After several scoreless innings between the Lady Tigers and the Gyrenes, the Gyrenes scored the first point of the ball game in the bottom of the fifth inning, securing a 1-0 lead over the Lady Tigers. The Lady Tigers attempted to rally but would fall to Ave Maria with a score of 1-0.
The Lady Tigers had just two hits on the game, both belonging to
Madison Davis.
Katy Chadwell had six strikeouts. Chadwell threw just 61 pitches, compared to Ave Maria's pitcher who threw 90. Chadwell had a .770 strike percentage compared to .611 of the Ave Maria's pitcher.
Game Two: Campbellsville 10, Ave Maria 7
The Lady Tigers started the second game much stronger than the first. During the top of the first inning, Hurst was sent to first base after getting hit by a pitch. Right after, Whitney sent a pitch to left field giving her the first hit of the ball game. A total of four walks and many errors caused the Lady Tigers to have a quick 4-0 lead over the Gyrenes. The Gyrenes looked to break into the four-point lead of the Lady Tigers, scoring four points of their own in the bottom of the first inning.
Courtney Patterson came in to relieve
Karson Williams in the bottom of the first inning leaving the score tied at 4-4.
An RBI single by Whitney brought in
Lexi Miller giving the lead back to the Lady Tigers. With the bases loaded, the Ave Maria pitchers struggled to find the zone sending more Lady Tigers across the plate. This created a 7-4 lead for the Lady Tigers.
Hadlee Carter hit a single to right field bringing in Ryley Oldham and
Taylor Windell to score. To finish the top of the second inning, the Lady Tigers took a five-point lead, 9-4, over the Gyrenes.
Through the top of the third inning, the Ave Maria pitcher continued to struggle in the circle. The Lady Tigers added yet another point to their lead after several batters were granted free bases via walks, 10-4. During the bottom of the fourth inning, the Gyrenes added three runs to the scoreboard cutting into the Lady Tiger's six-point lead. The Lady Tigers only had a three-point lead over the Gyrenes, 10-7. Much like game one, the Lady Tigers and the Gyrenes went scoreless for several innings. In the end, the Lady Tigers took game two, 10-7.
Patterson threw 71 pitches while
Karson Williams threw 19 for a total of 90 pitches thrown in the second game. The Ave Maria pitchers threw a total of 172 pitches. Miller and Whitney both had two hits, Davis, Carter, and Hurst each had one hit. The Lady Tigers walk away with a record of 1-1 on the season going into tomorrow's double-header.
Campbellsville is scheduled to play a double-header against Keiser University on Friday in West Palm Beach, Florida. The games are scheduled for 11 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET.
