GULF SHORES, Ala.- The #23 Lady Tigers took the road to battle the Texas A&M University Texarkana Eagles and the (RV) Middle Georgia State University Knights on their first day in the hyper-competitive and perennial NAIA University of Mobile Gulf Coast Invitational. Campbellsville closed out the day 1-1.

GAME ONE: Campbellsville 7, Texas A&M-Texarkana 8

The Eagles opened the first inning with a couple of hits but could not score before switching sides with the Lady Tigers. Rylee Warner and Jessie Daniels each collected a hit but could not score before the end of the first. The second inning was short-lived for both teams, as both put each other away in a three-up, three-down fashion quickly.

Texas A&M was first on the scoreboard with a two-run home run during the top of the third. Warner came into Campbellsville's share of the inning with a two-run home run of her own to tie the scoreboard. 

Like the second, the Eagles were swiftly put away in a three-up, three-down style. Caroline Pitcock, Camille Conkright, and Hannah Hackworth each came across the plate to grab the lead before the end of the fourth inning.

The fifth and sixth innings did not see much action for either team, as they struggled to reach base and come across home plate to score.

The Eagles got ahead of the Lady Tigers by one, scoring four runs during the top of the seventh. Daniels retaliated with a two-run home run at the bottom of the inning, tying the score and sending the game into extra innings for a tiebreaker. 

Texas A&M loaded their bases and scored another run to steal the lead during the top of the eighth.

GAME TWO: Campbellsville 5, Middle Georgia St. 0

Warner opened the day's second game with a single to left field. However, Campbellsville was put away before they could reach the plate. Although Middle Georgia reached a couple of bases on wild pitches, they could not collect any hits.

Hackworth reached base via walk in the beginning of the second inning, unable to score before switching sides with the Knights. The bottom of the second did not last long, as Middle Georgia was put away in a three-up, three-down fashion.

Much like the second, Emily Reynolds reached base via a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but the end of the top of the inning was over before she could score. Middle Georgia collected a single to center field and loaded their bases, but the inning ended as a Knight struck out swinging before they could score.

The Lady Tigers were first on the scoreboard as Daniels scored the first home run of the day to begin the fourth inning. Once again, Middle Georgia was put away in a three-up, three-down style, preserving Campbellsville's lead.

Daniels' momentum increased as she came into the fifth inning with a double to left field, bringing Reynolds and Ashby Murt across the plate. The Knights stepped up to the plate with a single to right field but were put away quickly.

Selynna Metcalfe and Taylor Windell collected a single throughout the top of the sixth, with the latter scoring the former for the Lady Tigers. Middle Georgia followed with a single to center field but had yet to score in the final inning.

As the final inning began, Reynolds tripled to right field, and as Daniels popped up to center field, she made it across the plate to increase Campbellsville's advantage. The Knights' bottom of the seventh was short-lived, put away in a three-up, three-down fashion, and closing the game with a victory for the Lady Tigers. 

The Lady Tigers will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, March 8th, on their second day in the Gulf Coast Invitational. They will battle the #15 Louisiana State University Alexandria Generals at 10 a.m. ET and the College of Saint Mary Flames at 12:15 p.m. ET.

• Despite falling to the Eagles, the Lady Tigers outperformed them in a couple of statistical categories: doubles (2-1), home runs (2-1), RBI (5-7), and assists (11-9). For the second game, Campbellsville surpassed Middle Georgia in most statistical categories, most significantly: hits (7-1), home runs (1-0), RBI (4-0), walks (5-0), and OPS (.856-.367).
• Campbellsville has only ever won one game against Texas A&M, their first-ever game in 2023; the Lady Tigers now hold a record of two consecutive losses against the Eagles.  
• Today's second game was Campbellsville's second-ever game against Middle Georgia; the Lady Tigers now hold a record of two consecutive victories against the Knights.