GULF SHORES, Ala. — The (RV) Lady Tiger softball team headed south for a five-game stint at the Gulf Coast Invitational, matching up with #10 Southeastern and (RV) UT Southern on Friday afternoon. Despite strong pitching and timely hitting, Campbellsville dropped a pair of 3-2 heartbreakers to open the tournament.
- Shortstop Korey Harris led the team with three combined hits on the day, consistently setting the table at the top of the lineup.
- Catcher Karleigh Walker was exceptionally clutch at the plate in game one, going 2-for-3 and driving in both of Campbellsville's runs against the 10th-ranked Fire.
- Emma Markham went the distance in the circle against #10 Southeastern, tossing six strong innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out one.
- The Lady Tigers showcased their depth in game two, with eight different players recording a hit against the Firehawks.
- Campbellsville will be back in action tomorrow as they square off with (RV) Saint Xavier University and #16 LSU Alexandria, with games scheduled for 3:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET.
GAME ONE: Southeastern 3, Campbellsville 2
Campbellsville opened game one as the visiting team against a formidable Southeastern squad. The Lady Tigers were retired in order in the top of the first, and the Fire quickly capitalized in the bottom half. After loading the bases, Southeastern drew a hit-by-pitch to push across the game's first run and give Southeastern an early 1-0 advantage.
Starter
Emma Markham settled into a groove after the opening frame, keeping the Fire off the board over the next two innings to allow the Lady Tiger bats to wake up.
In the top of the fourth, Campbellsville finally broke through.
Korey Harris sparked the offense with a leadoff single to right field and advanced into scoring position following a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by
Lydia Jones. After
Jessie Daniels was hit by a pitch,
Karleigh Walker ripped a clutch two-out RBI single up the middle to score Harris and tie the game at 1-1.
Southeastern answered immediately in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single, reclaiming a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, the Fire added a crucial insurance run, launching a solo home run, making it 3-1.
The Lady Tigers refused to go quietly. In the top of the sixth,
Caroline Pitcock reached safely on a fielding error by the pitcher. Walker stepped up again, lacing her second RBI single of the morning to right field to score Pitcock and narrow the deficit to 3-2.
Madison Reed followed with a single to center, but Southeastern's defense perfectly executed a throw to third base to catch pinch-runner
Makayla Hogg trying to advance, ending the threat.
Markham pitched all 6.0 innings for Campbellsville, allowing seven hits and three runs (two earned) while recording one strikeout.
GAME TWO: Tennessee Southern 3, Campbellsville 2
Game two was a quick turnaround, with the Lady Tigers playing back-to-back contests. Campbellsville got the scoring started early as the home team, but a big three-run inning for UT Southern proved to be the difference.
Leah Holland started in the circle for CU and set a strong tone in the top of the first, stranding a Firehawk runner by picking up a pair of strikeouts to escape the inning.
In the bottom of the second, Campbellsville's offense erupted. Jones got the rally started with a single to right-center, and Daniels immediately followed with a base hit to center.
Rylee Warner then ripped an RBI single into right field to score Jones.
Macy McCoy kept the line moving with an RBI single of her own, driving in Daniels to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Holland maintained the shutout through four innings, utilizing strong defense to keep UT Southern off the board. However, in the top of the fifth, the Firehawks finally broke through. Hannah Lindsey led off the inning with a solo home run. Following a Campbellsville fielding error and a fielder's choice, Carley Cook delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single to center field, giving UT Southern their first lead of the game at 3-2.
Relievers
Char Parker and
Heidi Tipton shut down the Firehawks for the remainder of the contest, but the Lady Tiger bats were unable to mount a late rally, ultimately falling 3-2.
Holland pitched 4.1 innings, giving up five hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out three batters. Eight different Lady Tigers recorded a hit in the balanced offensive effort.
