COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Lady Tigers faced off against (RV) Aquinas College in the final day of the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic. The Lady Tigers were not able to overcome the early deficit and fell 7-1 to the Saints. 
 
Katy Chadwell was the starter for the Lady Tigers today and the Saints were well-prepared for her. Chadwell gave up walks to the first two batters of the ballgame and that was followed by a single to load the bases. The Lady Tigers were able to get the first out of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field. Chadwell would give up another single and the Lady Tigers would fall behind 2-0. She was able to pick up a strikeout in the inning before hitting a batter and loading the bases. The defense stopped the damage by getting a groundout to leave the bases loaded. The Lady Tigers were able to get a leadoff walk from Riley Hurst, but it would be for naught as Lexi Miller would pop out to the shortstop and Ryley Whitney would ground into an inning ending double play.
 
Chadwell came back out in the top of the second and she would start the inning off by forcing a ground out. She then picked up her second strikeout on the day and the Lady Tigers were able to sit the Saints down in order. Madison Davis would draw a leadoff walk after falling behind in the count, but Campbellsville was not able to move her around the bases leaving her at first. 
 
Courtney Patterson would take over for Chadwell in the circle for the top of the third inning. Patterson gave up a walk to the first batter she faced, but immediately bounced back with a strikeout of the next batter. Patterson would give up a single and have runners at the corners. The Saints runner would steal second after a pop out to Davis at third. Patterson was able to keep the Saints from scoring with a fly out to the left fielder, stranding runners at second and third. Campbellsville would once again get another runner on base as Ryleigh Oldham was hit by a pitch after a line out by Taylor Windell. Hurst would come up and strike out. Oldham would steal second with two outs, but would get no further as Miller flied out to right field.
 
The Saints were not done with their offensive firepower as they would get three straight hits off of Patterson. The Lady Tigers would have a runner get cut down at the plate by a fielder's choice from Hurst to Whitney. Davis would have a ground ball hit right to her and she would step on third and throw to first to pick up an inning ending double play. Whitney would reach base on an error from the second baseman and would have a courtesy runner in the form of Emily Reynolds take over on the bases. The Lady Tigers would have back-to-back fly outs from Davis and Keely Bowling. Reynolds would pick up a stolen base, but get left at second as Ashby Murt struck out right after. Campbellsville is still looking for their first hit in the ball game. 
 
Patterson would set down the first two Saints batters with strikeouts, but then she gave up two consecutive singles. The inning would end shortly after as the Saints would ground into a fielder's choice to Hurst. The Lady Tigers would be retired in order in the bottom of the inning. 
 
Patterson would come back out and start the sixth. She gave up a leadoff single, but was able to retire the next two batters on a fly out and a ground out. Patterson would then give up another run to the Saints by giving up an RBI double. She would face one more batter and give up a single. Allison Bush would then take over for Patterson in the circle and she would force a pop out to Whitney to end the inning. Hurst would end the Saints' combined no-hitter with a double. Hurst would then be brought around by an RBI double from Miller. Campbellsville was starting to show signs of life, they would be quickly erased. Whitney would strike out and Davis would ground out to the pitcher advancing Miller to third. Bowling would then draw a walk from the Saints and Hadlee Carter would take over on the bases for Bowling. The Lady Tigers would send Madison Gregory to pinch hit for Murt and all that happened was a ground out to second.
 
Bell would then come back out in the seventh inning. She gave up back-to-back singles and walked a batter to load the bases. Bell would then force two pop outs with the bases loaded. The Saints would not go down quietly, however, as they would score another run on a wild pitch from Bell. Bell would then give up a two RBI single making the deficit 7-1. She would end the inning with a strikeout after a 10-pitch at bat. Campbellsville had one final chance to try and make a comeback, but were unable to do so. They would pick up a one out walk from Windell and Oldham reached on a fielder's choice. Hurst would single to try and keep the inning alive, but Miller would ground out to third to end the game. 
 
At its conclusion, Sam McKee was named to the All-Tournament team for her performance at the classic.

The Lady Tigers will return to action on Friday March 4^th as they will travel to Gulf Shores, Alabama to compete in the Gulf Coast Invitational. They will take on LSU Alexandria and Thomas University on the first day with the first game beginning at 4:15 p.m. ET.