GULF SHORES, Ala.- The Lady Tigers continued to compete on their last day in the Gulf Shores Invitational against Louisiana State University Alexandria and Baker University. Campbellsville picked up a 9-5 win over LSU Alexandria and then lost to Baker 10-9.
Game One: Campbellsville 9, LSU Alexandria 5
To begin the match, Ryley Whitney reached first base on a fielder's choice to get Lexi Miller out at second. The Lady Tigers used this to this runner to their advantage as Riley Hurst's single to the left side batted Whitney around to second base. Madison Davis scored Whitney with her RBI shot to center field which left Campbellsville leading by one run entering the bottom half of the inning. The solid pitching and defense of the Lady Tigers kept the Generals at bay as they closed the inning.
Campbellsville continued to put the bats to use as a couple singles put runners in position to increase the lead. Taylor Windell's and Ashby Murt's hits to the left side of the field secured each of them spots on the base pads. LSU Alexandria made a pitching change; however, it was not enough to stop Sam McKee from making the bases loaded with opportunity for Miller. Miller seized the chance and collected a two-run RBI that scored Windell and Murt. A pass ball allowed McKee to score and for Miller to take second. Campbellsville went into the bottom of the second with a 4-0 lead. The Generals answered this deficit by forcing the Lady Tigers into two errors putting them in position to decrease their shortfall. However, Campbellsville locked down to stop LSU Alexandria from scoring.
After scoreless third inning on both halves, Murt led-off the fourth inning with a triple to center field. The Generals made another pitching change, but McKee used this to her advantage as she drove in Murt with her RBI to right-field. Whitney followed trend of her fellow Lady Tiger with an RBI of her own that propelled McKee to score and moved Miller to second. Another pitching change was initiated by LSU Alexandria that shut out the inning. The Lady Tigers led by six runs.
Campbellsville continued to keep the Generals from making advancements. In the fifth, Windell lined out to right field to push Ryleigh Oldham to third. Murt racked up an RBI as she batted in Oldham and moved Windell to third with her hit to right field. The Lady Tigers continued to roll with one out as McKee's grounder to the pitcher allowed Windell to score. During the bottom half of the inning, back-to-back RBIs from the Generals shortened their discrepancy to six runs.
The Lady Tigers were unable to further their lead and the Generals used this to their advantage as they scratched at Campbellsville's score. However, the Lady Tigers returned in the seventh inning with another run to add to the scoreboard. On two outs, McKee swung to right field that allowed Windell to score.
In the final at bat, LSU Alexandria acquired two runs by capitalizing from a ball hit through third and short stop. Karson Williams shut out the following batters and the Lady Tigers left victorious over the Generals, 9-5.
Pitching was a strong suit for the Lady Tigers as the strike percentage rang in at a .764 percent compared to the Generals .683 percent. Out of the eight RBIs collected, McKee left the brick dust with three and Miller with two. Windell and Murt both finished with a .750 at the plate.
Game Two: Campbellsville 9, Baker 10
Baker University started this game with their bats hot and scored five runs in the first inning. The Lady Tigers attempted to match Baker's at bat; Hurst started Campbellsville off with a single RBI and brought McKee across home plate. Davis was the second one with an RBI and brought Miller home. The Lady Tigers scored one more run that inning with Hurst finding home plate.
In the top of the second inning Williams came in to pitch for Courtney Patterson. The Lady Tigers got three quick outs without Baker scoring. Campbellsville looked to get their bats going in this inning and Murt was the one who started off. She hit a single to right field and then advanced to second as Miller was walked. Murt advanced to third but didn't find home plate as Whitney was thrown out at third base on the next at bat. Both teams failed to score and the game remained at 5-3.
Williams pitched again in the top of the third quarter, and Campbellsville got two quick outs on the first three at bats. The Wildcats then had a two RBI triple and took a 7-3 lead over the Lady Tigers to go into the bottom of the third. Oldham was the first one on base after being walked. Windell reached first on a fielder's choice to which got Oldham out at second. Windell was able to steal second, but the Wildcats got their third out after Tuck grounded out to the pitcher. Campbellsville went into the fourth inning scoreless since the first inning.
The Lady Tigers were strong in the field and got three up, three down. McKee got the bats going in this inning with a single to the left corner. Miller hit a ground ball and got out at first but that allowed McKee to advance to second. Whitney was the next at bat and reached first on an error by their short stop; She got an RBI and brought McKee across home plate. The Wildcats held Campbellsville to only one run that inning and the fourth inning ended with a score of 7-4.
The Wildcats started the fifth inning with a triple and the next at bat was an RBI which gave Baker their eighth run. The Lady Tigers started with Oldham being waked in the bottom of the fifth. Windell then hit a single to center field but was then thrown out at second after Tuck reached first on a fielder's choice. Emily Reynolds pinch ran for Tuck and advanced to second as Murt hit but got out at first. The Lady Tigers had a runner on second and third with two outs in hopes of bringing those runners across the plate. McKee lined out at second and neither of the runners scored.
In the bottom of the sixth inning the Lady Tigers got their bats flowing again. Whitney hit a double to left field. Journey Knowles entered the game as a pinch runner for Whitney. Hurst then hit the first homerun for Campbellsville which brought her and Knowles home. The sixth inning ended with the Lady Tigers down just two runs.
The top of the seventh inning started with Campbellsville getting two quick outs. Then, the Lady Tigers committed a few errors which advanced some runners. Baker then had an RBI and scored their ninth run. Before the Wildcats could score again Campbellsville got their third out. Windell started the bottom of the seventh with a double to left field. Madison Gregory entered the game as a pinch hitter for Tuck. Gregory then hit a ground ball into a double play which resulted in Gregory and Windell thrown out. With two outs on the board, Murt was up to bat and hit a single to right field. McKee was then walked and Murt advanced to second. At the next at bat, McKee advanced to second on a passed ball and Murt advanced to third. Miller was up to bat with two outs on the board and she was walked which led to bases loaded for the Lady Tigers. Whitney was then walked too which brought Murt across home plate and advanced McKee and Miller. The bases were still loaded and Hurst hit a double to center field. That big hit was a two-run RBI and brought home McKee and Miller. That RBI tied up the game and the contest then went into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, Baker University scored one run before Campbellsville got three outs. It was then Campbellsville's turn to answer in the bottom of the eighth. Davis hit a ground ball to center field and was thrown out but that allowed Hurst to advance to third base. The Lady Tigers then had two strikeouts, the second strikeout being the third out and Campbellsville lost 10-9.
What separated the game was the error count: one for Baker and four for Campbellsville. McKee led with three runs scored and Miller and Hurst right behind her with two each. Hurst had five RBI's. The Lady Tigers ended their stint at the Gulf Coast Invitational 1-5 and are now 7-8 on the season.
The Lady Tigers will host their first game of the season home at Hord Softball Field as they will host Midway University. The game is set for Wednesday, March 9th beginning at 2 p.m. ET
