PULASKI, Tenn. — The #24 Lady Tigers competed in their first away (non-neutral) game of the season Friday afternoon when they took on the Tennessee Southern Firehawks. The first of the three-game series went in Campbellsville's favor after an explosive fifth inning where they set the Lady Tigers' record for runs scored in an inning and won, 18-2.

Campbellsville had emerged victorious in nine of the last ten meetings between the two squads. The Firehawks drew first blood though, with two runs in the second inning when Tennessee Southern made two sacrifice plays to send runners across. In response, Riley Hurst hit a double and later got on the board amidst a stolen base by Lexi Miller.

Although the Lady Tigers were outhitting the Firehawks 4-3, the top of the fourth showed Tennessee Southern ahead 2-1. Campbellsville's bats were fruitless. However, that is a prelude in hindsight as the Lady Tigers seemed nigh unstoppable in the fifth frame. Keely Bowling got things started with a single. After two hit-by-pitches, the bases were fully loaded as Payton Blades sent one over the fence for a grand slam. The hits didn't cease there; the Lady Tigers posted a whopping 11 hits and 17 runs in the fifth inning alone, setting a program record for runs scored in an inning.

The game ended 18-2. Bowling led the way with three hits, while Hurst, Blades, and Windell had two. Blades sent home five runs, and Windell had three. Katy Chadwell got the win as the starting pitcher. Emily Reynolds relieved her for an inning at the end to seal the deal.

Games two and three in Pulaski begin on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.