CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Lady Tigers hosted Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus in a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. LTS won both games with bats alight in the first and good, solid pitching in the second.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 9, IUPUC 1
Campbellsville's defense started strongly to open the game. The Crimson Pride went three up, three down, and then it was time for the Lady Tigers to get their bats going. Riley Hurst started Campbellsville off with a single through the left side. Lexi Miller was next and bombed an RBI triple, bringing Hurst home. Miller then crossed home plate on a passed ball. After the three outs, the Lady Tigers had the 2-0 lead.
IUPUC managed to get one hit in the top of the second inning but saw no reward after the three outs came fast. Keeley Bowling got the Lady Tigers going in the bottom of the second with a single up the middle. She then advanced to second after Kaleigh Tuck singled. Shortly after, Miller hit another triple that brought home Bowling and Tuck. After the third out, Campbellsville had a four-run lead.
In the top of the third frame, the first batter for the Crimson Pride grounded out to third base. After that, Katy Chadwell pitched two strikeouts leading Campbellsville to the bottom of the third. The Lady Tigers didn't see any hits or runs in the bottom of the third and left one on base. The fourth inning started with IUPUC seeing their first run of the game after totaling three hits. Tuck got things going for the Lady Tigers after she singled down the right-field line. She then advanced the second base after Hurst singled up the middle. Going three-for-three at the plate, Miller dinged a homer and brought Tuck and Hurst with her. Up next, Payton Blades doubled down the left field line and landed on third base. Morgan Carter then singled and sent Blades across home plate. All this action carried Campbellsville a seven-run lead going into the fifth inning.
Allison Bush came into the circle for Chadwell in the top of the fifth inning. The Crimson Pride could not cut into the Lady Tiger lead after going three up, three down. Brea Croslin was walked at the beginning of the fifth inning. Croslin then came across home plate after Tuck hit a single RBI, closing the game.
The Lady Tigers totaled 11 hits compared to the Crimson Pride's four. The Lady Tigers had an error-free game that aided in the win.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 2, IUPUC 1
The second doubleheader game opened with the Crimson Pride adding one hit, but no runs accompanied it. In the bottom of the first inning, the Lady Tigers went three up, three down. Courtney Patterson started the game pitching for Campbellsville, and the Lady Tigers got three up, three down to start the second frame. Morgan Carter led off for Campbellsville, singling up the middle. Caroline Pitcock hit a single and scored after Madison Davis hit a double RBI. Taylor Windell smacked a double to left field and brought home Davis. Up next, Bowling was up to bat and saw nine pitches before she was hit by a pitch and reached first base.
In the top of the third frame, the Crimson Pride was able to add another hit but once again saw no reward from it. Ashby Murt led off for Campbellsville and singled up the middle on her ninth pitch. Murt advanced to second after Carter singled up the left field line. The Lady Tigers added two more hits and left the bases loaded after the third out.
In the top of the fourth inning, Campbellsville managed to get three up, three down, and Patterson struck out the last batter. Windell led off for the Lady Tigers and singled to left field but was thrown out trying to get to second. Bowling was up next, and she was walked but was left on base after the third out. To start the fifth inning, Patterson got her third strikeout of the game as Campbellsville saw three up, three down once again. After the first two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Crimson Pride made a pitching change. After the swap, Pitcock was walked and then reached second after a wild pitch. She was left on base after the third out coming from Croslin.
IUPUC tallied another hit in the top of the sixth frame but remained scoreless. Davis led off the Lady Tigers in the bottom of the sixth and hit a single to shortstop. Camille Conkright came in to run for Davis, and she advanced to second after a sacrificed bunt by Windell. Bowling was walked shortly after, and Emily Reynolds came in to run for her. The bases were loaded after Murt walked, but the Lady Tigers saw no reward and kept the two-run lead going into the seventh inning. In the top of the final inning, IUPUC tallied two hits and one run, but it wasn't enough to keep the game going, and Campbellsville won, 2-1.
The Lady Tigers totaled eight hits compared to IUPUC's five. Campbellsville's pitching proved successful this game with Patterson throwing a .711 strike percentage compared to the Crimson Pride's .595 strike percentage.
Lady Tiger Softball will be back in action Friday, March 3rd when they participate in the 2023 Gulf Coast Invitational. Their first game will see them face Texas A&M – San Antonio. The game starts at 2:30 p.m. ET.
