MCKENZIE, Tenn. — The Campbellsville University Lady Tigers took the road Friday to take on the Bethel University Lady Wildcats for a three-game Mid-South Conference series. Campbellsville finished day one in commanding fashion, securing two crucial conference victories against Bethel.
- Second baseman Lydia Jones led the offensive charge, tallying four total hits, driving in three runs, and scoring three times across the doubleheader.
- Reigning MSC and NAIA Player of the Week Jessie Daniels anchored the defense, recording 18 putouts across both contests.
- The pitching trio of Emma Markham, Ellie Coley, and Leah Holland combined for a dominant performance, striking out 14 Lady Wildcats while allowing just one run throughout the day.
- Karleigh Walker had a stellar performance in game one, collecting three RBIs, including a clutch two-run sacrifice fly to cap off a massive seventh inning.
- The Lady Tigers will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, to close out the series against the Lady Wildcats beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 10, Bethel 0
The Lady Tigers dominated early, setting the tone from the first inning.
Korey Harris and
Lydia Jones both crossed the plate during their share of the first, fueled by an RBI single from Jones and an RBI groundout from
Jessie Daniels to take a quick 2-0 lead.
Campbellsville continued to grow its lead with timely hitting.
Ashlan Estep collected an RBI single in the second inning, and
Karleigh Walker delivered an RBI single in the third.
Estep crossed the plate once again in the top of the fifth, scoring on a sacrifice fly to center field by Daniels to extend the Lady Tigers' advantage to 5-0.
The sixth inning was short-lived for both teams, as the pitching staffs put their opponents away quickly while the Lady Wildcats struggled to make it on the board against Campbellsville starter
Emma Markham.
Campbellsville officially broke the game open and doubled their lead during the seventh, putting up five runs in the final frame. Estep sparked the rally with a single, eventually scoring when Harris crushed an RBI triple. Walker then delivered a clutch two-run sacrifice fly to center field, bringing both Jones and Harris home. Moments later, Daniels scored on a passed ball, and
Riley Sprowles capped the barrage with an RBI single to score
Rylee Warner, bringing Campbellsville to double digits.
Markham earned the victory after throwing 5.0 scoreless innings of three-hit softball with seven strikeouts.
Ellie Coley closed out the final two frames flawlessly, striking out two to secure the 10-0 shutout.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 5, Bethel 1
Daniels opened the second game with a two-out double, advancing to third base on an error by the left fielder, but the Lady Tigers were put away before she managed to score. The Lady Wildcats also threatened early by getting on base via a walk, but were put away shortly after by starter
Leah Holland.
During the top of the third, Campbellsville broke the scoreless tie when Jones ripped a two-run double, bringing Estep and
Madison Reed across the plate for the first two runs of the game.
As the fourth inning came around, the Lady Tigers capitalized on Bethel miscues.
Hannah Hackworth stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Warner to race home and score on the throw. Moments later, Hackworth scored after an RBI double by Reed, stretching the lead to 4-0. Bethel scored their first and only run of the day during their share of the fourth on an RBI single from Kalani Hernandez.
Macy McCoy scored Campbellsville's fifth run of the night during the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Hackworth. Although Jones singled to left field during the final inning, the Lady Tigers were unable to score again, closing the game with a comfortable 5-1 victory.
Holland secured the win after tossing 4.0 innings, allowing just one run and striking out two. Coley picked up her first save of the season, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts to finalize the sweep over the Lady Wildcats.
