CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The (RV) Lady Tigers sought to extend their six-game winning streak against conference opponent Freed-Hardeman in the first day of their series Saturday. Campbellsville struggled to keep Freed-Hardeman from attacking gaps in game one, losing 9-8 in extra innings. However, they rebounded with a great defensive effort in the second contest and shut out the Lions, 3-0.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 8, Freed-Hardeman 9
With
Katy Chadwell in the circle, the Lions came out hot, notching three runs in their share of the opening frame behind three doubles. The Lady Tigers were prepared to respond though as
Morgan Carter put a ball over the fence, scoring three runs in the process (
Caroline Pitcock was walked and
Lindsey Mitchell had reached on an error).
With the scoreboard knotted at threes, Freed-Hardeman pushed a run across to take the advantage. Camile Conkright led off with a single and two runners were on after
Jessie Daniels was walked.
Emily Reynolds got herself a single too, sending Conkright home. Subsequently, it would be a repeat of the first frame with Pitcock smacking a three-run homer herself to put the Lady Tigers up by three.
After a scoreless third inning, the fourth saw a single run each: the Lions getting home on the back of singles and the Lady Tigers retalitating with a Daniels home run (her ninth and Mid-South Conference leading bomb of the season).
The fifth was again fruitless for the opposing offenses. Ahead of the sixth frame, Campbellsville led 8-5 but they were falling behind Freed-Hardeman's hit production. With an out away,
Ellie Coley came in to relieve Chadwell. However, Freed-Hardeman would go on to send two in and bring the game to within a single run. Coley struck out the pinch hitter for the final out, but the Lady Tigers couldn't capitalize on offense.
Chadwell reentered after the bases were loaded in the seventh. Despite the defense's best efforts, the Lions tied things up via a throwing error. All Campbellsville could do was get a single in their share, and the contest went to extra innings.
Freed-Hardeman mustered a run in the eighth frame, again stemming from a Lady Tiger error. It was three up, three down for Campbellsville and the Lions took game one, 9-8.
Carter and Conkright paced the team with their two hits, but the Lions more than doubled the team's total hits, 19 to nine. The Freed-Hardeman pitcher only had two strikeouts, but it was the fielding for the Lions that secured them the win, keeping Campbellsville from getting on base.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 3, Freed-Hardeman 0
Courtney Patterson took on the Lions to start the second game. Although they connected on two pitches, Campbellsville put up three outs before any damage was done. The Lady Tigers, in the first tries at bat, saw Daniels hit a single and then come home later when Mitchell got herself to first base after sending the ball through the left side.
Just like the first game, Freed-Hardeman continued to accumulate hits with short shots to the gaps, but this game the Lady Tigers were prepared and kept leaving Lions stranded. In the bottom of the second, Campbellsville added another run when Windell ran home off a wild pitch following her double.
The third so no runs from Freed-Hardeman, but Campbellsville made it three-for-three by scoring another when Carter's sacrifice pushed Daniels across the plate. In the fourth frame, the Lady Tigers imposed the first three up, three down of the contest. Picking up their bats, the Lions' defense did the same to Campbellsville in response.
In the fifth, an error put Freed-Hardeman on base, but a double play two plays later made up for it. The Lady Tigers loaded the bases on two hits, a walk, and a fielder's choice, but couldn't send any runners home.
The Lions went three up, three down again with Patterson's 100
th pitch of the game securing the final out in the top of the sixth. Campbellsville suffered the same fate in their at-bat.
In the deciding inning, Campbellsville continued their effective fielding and ended things, 3-0.
The Lady Tigers will face the Lions again on Sunday April 7
th with games starting at 1 p.m. ET.
