CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville University's softball team hosted University of Tennessee Southern Saturday afternoon at Hord Softball Field. The Lady Tigers knocked down the Firehawks back-to-back on the day.
Game One: Campbellsville 9, UT Southern 1
The Firehawks put up one run against the Lady Tigers due to Campbellsville's error, but they returned in the bottom of the first inning to scratch at their trail.
Riley Hurst led off at the plate with a walk for
Lexi Miller to bat her around to third base.
Payton Blades dropped a line over shortstop's head to score Hurst for an even score. Bases were loaded with Miller,
Ryley Whitney (walked), and Blades when
Taylor Windell was in the box. The UT Southern pitcher walked Windell which resulted in another Lady Tiger run. Campbellsville bore no outs and
Sam McKee used this as she had a two-run RBI with her line out to center field. Windell ran in as
Ashby Murt's fly out to right field gave Windell enough time to tag up and score. McKee crossed home plate in this next at bat as
Keely Bowling flew out to right center. Campbellsville led the Firehawks 6-1.
The contest remained quiet until the bottom of the third. With two outs,
Hadlee Carter (Blade's pinch runner) sat in scoring position. Bowling grounded to short stop, but a Firehawk fielder acquired a throwing error which allowed Carter to score. Hurst worked the count to collect a walk for McKee to score from third. UT Southern was shot down as they returned to bat and collected no runs to combat their shortfall.
Carter appeared at the plate in substitution for Blades. She lined out to the left center wall to collect herself a double. Windell followed her teammate as she singled up the middle to score Carter. The Lady Tigers cultivated a bases-loaded opportunity but were unable to make further advances. With strong Lady Tiger defense, the Firehawks were stopped short in their trek. Campbellsville took the first game 9-1 over the UT Southern.
Katy Chadwell stood in the circle during the contest. Out of her 17 batters she faced, Chadwell threw 35 strikes out of her 45 pitches. Windell, Bowling, and McKee each totaled two RBIs apiece.
Game Two: Campbellsville 14, UT Southern 3
Campbellsville put away the Firehawks in the first inning to get their time at the plate.
Lexi Miller solidified a run as she sent one over the right field wall in her first at bat. The Lady Tigers was unable to follow Miller as they entered the second inning with no added runs.
UT Southern racked up two hits to ensure a run for an even score in the second inning. Campbellsville did not return the same intensity in their turn at the plate and returned to defensive play. The Firehawks revisited the plate in the top of the third to acquire a homerun. The Lady Tigers then trailed by one run.
With two outs in the third, Hurst made the base pads her own. She placed herself in a scoring position for Miller to move her around. Miller popped up to second, however, the fielder was unable to ensure the out and Hurst scored. The fourth inning was slim with action as both teams were scoreless.
In the bottom of the fifth, Bowling doubled to left field and dove into second to be placed in scoring position. Hurst singled to short and Miller's short ball to right field scored
Journey Knowles (Bowling's pinch runner) and advanced Hurst. Miller went on to steal second and the Firehawks committed to a passed ball on their throw down which allowed Hurst to score. With two outs and bases loaded, Windell singled to the pitcher and Miller added a run to the board.
The Firehawks climbed up their trail by one, but Campbellsville's bats began to heat up in the bottom of the sixth. After a
Ryleigh Oldham and Bowling placed themselves on base, Hurst doubled to right field for a two-run RBI. The bats kept rolling as Whitney singled through the left side to bat in Miller. The Lady Tigers run-ruled the Firehawks as Windell and Carter both collected two-run RBIs to finalize the win.
Miller finished the match batting four-for-four with three RBIs. Hurst batted at a .750 with two RBIs and Windell batted at a .500 with three RBIs.
Karson Williams claimed the circle with a .657 strike percentage compared to the Firehawks .621 percent.
The Lady Tigers will continue to host UT Southern tomorrow afternoon with games beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
