COLUMBUS, Ga. — The last morning of the NFCA Leadoff Classic saw the Lady Tigers hitting the dirt against the (RV) IU Southeast Grenadiers. Campbellsville's massive seven-run fourth inning and then five-run sixth gave them the run-rule, 15-7.
Emily Reynolds got the start. A leadoff double followed by a sacrifice fly allowed the Grenadiers to push one run across. Lady Tigers responded with a run of their own in their share of the frame. Reynolds, hit by a pitch, was pushed through by graduate transfer
Lindsey Mitchell's RBI single to tie things up.
Reynolds struck out the first batter of the second inning and the Lady Tigers made short work of the Grenadier offense to take to the plate for themselves. With two outs,
Kaeleigh Tuck battled the pitcher, staying alive until she was hit by a pitch. However, she was left stranded.
A single and then a homerun put the Grenadiers back ahead in the top of the third. After Campbellsville couldn't muster much, the fourth inning began hot for IU Southeast. They had three hits and three runs, with freshman pitcher
Ellie Coley coming in two-thirds of the way through. In response and with three runners on base for Campbellsville,
Keely Bowling smacked a double to center field that dropped just in front of a Grenadier, bringing in two Lady Tigers.
With the score at 6-3 for the Grenadiers and the bases loaded, they switched up pitchers and her second pitch resulted in a passed ball that brought the Lady Tigers to four runs. Right after, freshman
Jessie Daniels clocked a single to left field that knotted the scoreboard. With only one out, Reynolds kept things moving with a single of her own. Campbellsville continued their campaign with
Caroline Pitcock's two RBI double, forcing another pitching change from IU Southeast.
The fifth frame began with the Lady Tigers up two runs and, despite allowing two hits, they prevented any offensive Grenadier momentum from establishing itself. Campbellsville stretched their advantage to four runs in their turn at-bat, following Daniels' single, Camile Conkright's double, Reynolds' squeeze bunt, and Pitcock's ground out.
In the sixth,
Katy Chadwell relieved Coley on the mound after two IU Southeast hits and a score. Still up three runs, Chadwell struck out the first batter she faced. With two Grenadiers on after a walk, Chadwell ended the half-inning with her pitching. To begin their offense,
Taylor Windell made it to first although she struck out swinging due to a wild pitch and then stole second.
Morgan Carter then hit a single through the left side, putting runners on both ends. Freshman
Annabelle Knoop entered to pinch run for Carter when Bowling hit her second double of the day off the center field fence, scoring Windell. Immediately afterward, Tuck's first hit of the game was a two-RBI single, growing the Campbellsville lead to six runs at 13-7. Daniels' homer, the first of her college career, ended the game when her and Tuck went home, 15-7.
Campbellsville collected 13 hits in the contest and eight assists. Daniels led the team with her 1.200 slugging percentage, four RBIs, three runs, three hits, and game-clinching homerun.
The Lady Tigers will make their first appearance of the season at home on Tuesday February 20
th in a doubleheader against Union College. Those games start at 1 p.m. ET.
