GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Lady Tigers finish their expedition in the Gulf Shores Invitational Sunday afternoon. Campbellsville's aggression at the plate led to the defeat of Southeastern Baptist (9-1) in game one. The (RV) Texas A&M - Texarkana Eagles (3-2) bested the Lady Tigers in game two.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 9. Southeastern Baptist 1
Campbellsville started competition in the field. The Lady Tigers allowed no opportunity for the Chargers to score. Once Campbellsville had their turn in the box, the first three batters singled their way into loaded bases. Payton Blades captured the first RBI of the afternoon. Blades's hit scored Riley Hurst on a fielder's choice. As Lexi Miller sat on third base, Madison Davis shot a ball out to the center fielder. Miller tagged up and came across the plate for a 2-0 lead over the Chargers.
Allison Bush shut out the opponent's attempts to ignite a comeback after she collected her third strikeout of the day. Campbellsville's second time at the plate was more rewarding than the first, as the Lady Tigers managed three more runs. Keely Bowling and Hurst sat on third and second base when Ashby Murt was up to bat. Murt scored Bowling on a ground out to the shortstop. In the next at-bat, Miller singled and scored Hurst. Rolling on two outs, Blades placed the ball in center field to score Miller.
Bush defeated her foes in the batter's box, poising two more strikeouts. Brea Croslin and Morgan Carter were stationed on the bases when Bowling was up to bat. Campbellsville capitalized off a Charger error, and Croslin crossed the plate. Hurst composed an RBI as her hit to center field scored Carter.
In the top of the fourth, Emily Reynolds came onto the mound for Bush. The Chargers worked to push a runner around the bases. As Campbellsville secured their second out, Southeastern scored one run. In the latter half of the inning, the Lady Tigers canceled the Chargers' attempt with another run of their own.
Southeastern Baptist did not have the opportunity to secure more runs; however, Campbellsville scored once more in the sixth inning. Blades doubled to left field, and Taylor Windell followed through with an RBI single. The Lady Tigers walked away with a 9-1 win over the Chargers.
Hurst batted 1.000 in her three appearances at the plate. Windell also batted 1.000 in her two times in the box. Campbellsville only threw 70 pitches, whereas Southeastern Baptist threw 110 pitches. Bush and Reynolds finalized a .714 strike percentage which reigned above the Chargers' .609 strike percentage.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 2, Texas A&M Texarkana 3
The Lady Tigers quickly gained the upper hand above the Eagles. Miller's and Blades' singles to the outfield to place themselves on the bases. Caroline Pitcock put her hit over to the right field to score Miller. When TAMUT attempted to scratch back, Katy Chadwell articulated two strikeouts, and Kaeleigh Tuck collected the third out on a throw down to second base.
Campbellsville suffered a two-out deficit in the third inning while Hurst stood on second base. Blades's double sent Hurst home for a two-run lead over the Eagles. TAMUT struggled to find the bases as they went three up and three down when they faced Chadwell.
The action in the fourth and fifth inning was slim and did not pick up until the bottom of the sixth. After two singles, TAMUT scored a run with an RBI double. The Lady Tigers had not secured out yet. Moments later, the Eagles amassed another run and another single. Courtney Patterson came into the competition to relieve Chadwell in the circle. With no outs, the Eagles tied the score at two runs. Runners sat on second and third base. TAMUT grabbed the lead as a ground out to the shortstop led to the Eagles putting another run up on the board. The Lady Tigers did not recuperate and fell to the Eagles 3-2.
Blades led her team with a .677 batting percentage. Campbellsville threw a .648 strike percentage, while the Eagles threw a .694 strike percentage. The Lady Tigers batted .429 with runners one, but just not in the most crucial at-bat.
The Lady Tigers will return to the Mid-South next Friday, March 10th. Campbellsville will take on the University of Tennesee Southern at 5 p.m. ET in Pulaski, Tennessee.
