COLUMBUS, Ga. – Lady Tiger softball headed south and battled through a weather-delayed day one of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, using timely hitting and lockdown pitching to secure two impressive run-rule victories against Stillman College and Thomas University.
- The Campbellsville offense was electric, combining to score 19 runs on 18 hits across the two shortened contests, racking up 14 RBIs, five doubles, and four stolen bases.
- First baseman Jessie Daniels was on fire at the dish, going 4-for-5 overall while driving in five runs, scoring twice, and crushing two doubles alongside a triple.
- The starting pitching duo of Leah Holland and Emma Markham combined to strike out nine batters while allowing zero earned runs throughout Friday's matchups.
- Campbellsville remains in Columbus, Georgia, for day two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow, with the Lady Tigers scheduled to play the University of Mobile at 2:30 p.m. ET and Faulkner University at 5:00 p.m. ET.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 8, Stillman College 0
Rain poured down early Friday morning, leaving almost every field at the South Commons Complex underwater. Five hours later than expected, the Lady Tigers finally squared off with Stillman College. Junior
Leah Holland took the circle for CU and immediately set the tone, starting the game fast with a leadoff strikeout. The defense backed her up, with shortstop
Korey Harris ranging up the middle and firing across the diamond for the second out. Stillman threatened by putting two runners on, but Holland induced a groundout to escape the early jam.
Harris, operating in the leadoff spot, got the offensive momentum started with a backside single and promptly stole second base.
Caroline Pitcock then smashed a double down the left-field line, trading places and scoring Harris for the game's first run.
Jessie Daniels kept the pressure on, roping an RBI triple down the right-field line before scoring on a sacrifice fly from
Madison Reed. After the first inning, the Lady Tigers led 3-0.
Inning two saw both teams put runners on base, but neither could capitalize. The Campbellsville defense then produced a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third before threatening to extend the lead by loading the bases in the home half, though Stillman's defense managed to keep the Lady Tigers off the board.
Holland continued to cruise in the circle, picking up another strikeout in the fourth while the defense handled the rest. The Lady Tigers added crucial insurance runs in the home half of the frame.
Ashlan Estep laid down a perfect bunt for a single and stole second. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Estep sprinted home on a wild pitch. Daniels followed by finding the outfield grass for a clutch two-run single, pushing the Tigers' lead to 6-0.
Campbellsville applied the final blow in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Harris drew an RBI walk, and
Rylee Warner immediately followed with a walk-off RBI single to right-center, ending the game via the run rule at 8-0. Holland threw a complete-game shutout, allowing only three hits and punching out five.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 11, Thomas University 1
Game two against Thomas didn't start until 11:15 p.m. ET, as Thomas went deep into extra innings in their previous matchup. Despite the late hour, Campbellsville's offense stayed hot, jumping out early and never looking back.
Thomas started on offense and got a runner in scoring position with two outs, but
Madison Reed ended the threat with a pop-out to third. Campbellsville quickly countered with an attack of its own in the bottom of the first. With Pitcock on first after a fielder's choice,
Karleigh Walker sent a laser into left field for an RBI double.
Hannah Hackworth followed by sending a two-out pitch into the outfield, reaching safely on an error by the center fielder that allowed Walker to score, giving CU an early 2-0 advantage.
Emma Markham did exactly what a starting pitcher should do after her team takes the lead, inducing a pair of flyouts and picking up a strikeout for a quick 1-2-3 second inning.
The Lady Tigers blew the game open in the bottom of the second.
Lydia Jones led off with a single up the middle, and McCoy followed with a sacrifice bunt. Aggressive baserunning saw Jones steal third before Estep came through with a timely RBI single to third base. After Estep stole second and the bases were loaded via back-to-back walks, Daniels launched a two-run double to center field. Campbellsville continued to apply pressure, forcing Thomas into multiple fielding errors that plated two more runs, followed by a sacrifice fly from Reed. By the end of the second, the Lady Tigers held a commanding 8-0 lead.
Markham's excellence remained on full display as she mowed down the side in order in the third inning, striking out all three batters she faced. In the bottom of the third, Campbellsville plated two more runs after back-to-back RBI doubles from Pitcock and Daniels.
Thomas plated their lone run of the contest in the top of the fourth on an RBI single, but
Ellie Coley, pitching in relief, limited the damage.
The Lady Tigers added one final run in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Jones and secured the 11-1 victory after five innings. Markham was stellar in the circle, tossing three innings of perfect, no-hit softball with four punchouts to earn the win.
