CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — The Campbellsville University Lady Tigers hosted the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lions on Thursday for a doubleheader to begin their three-game conference series. Showcasing incredible resilience, the Lady Tigers erased massive early deficits in both contests to clinch a pair of thrilling, one-run victories against the visitors.
- Shortstop Korey Harris was a massive spark at the top of the lineup, leading the Lady Tigers with five total hits and crossing the plate five times across the doubleheader.
- First baseman Jessie Daniels was an absolute powerhouse, driving in five runs on the day—highlighted by a staggering three home runs, including the go-ahead blast in game two.
- Macy McCoy delivered the heroics in game one, ripping a two-run, walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to complete a massive four-run comeback.
- Campbellsville surpassed Freed-Hardeman offensively across the day, leading the stat sheet in both hits (21-18) and RBIs (14-13) to earn the sweep.
- The Lady Tigers will be back in action tomorrow, Friday, April 3, hosting the Lady Lions in their third game of the series, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 9, Freed-Hardeman 8
The Lady Lions took charge early in the game, utilizing an RBI single in the first inning to score the first run of the day. During their share of the second inning, Freed-Hardeman extended their lead to a commanding 6-0 following a three-run double to left-center and a two-run home run to right-center. The Lady Tigers collected a hit in each of the first two innings but were unable to immediately answer.
In the top of the third, the Lady Lions hit another solo home run to add to their lead. However, the Lady Tigers finally broke through in the bottom half of the inning.
Madison Reed scored on a wild pitch to put Campbellsville on the scoreboard, and
Karleigh Walker stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch two-run single up the middle, bringing
Lydia Jones and
Korey Harris home.
Although Freed-Hardeman added an insurance run in the fourth,
Hannah Hackworth immediately answered, launching Campbellsville's first home run of the day to right-center to cut into the deficit.
After a scoreless fifth inning,
Jessie Daniels elevated the momentum by crushing a solo home run to left-center to open the bottom of the sixth, making it an 8-5 game.
Despite holding the upper hand, the Lady Lions were shut down offensively in their share of the final inning. Campbellsville flipped the board as they stepped up to bat for the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded, Walker laced an RBI single up the middle, and Daniels immediately followed with an RBI double to left-center. Stepping into the box with the game on the line,
Macy McCoy ripped a two-run walk-off single up the middle, bringing Daniels and pinch-runner
Makayla Hogg across the plate to seal the incredible 9-8 comeback victory.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 6, Freed-Hardeman 5
Much like the start of the first game, the Lady Lions came into the nightcap aggressive, pushing across a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly while the Lady Tigers struggled to retaliate early.
The second inning widened the gap on the scoreboard, with Freed-Hardeman capitalizing on a Campbellsville error and stringing together four singles to plate four runs and take a 5-0 advantage. McCoy and Reed collected hits during the bottom of the inning but were unable to put Campbellsville on the board.
After relief pitcher
Ellie Coley put the Lady Lions away in 1-2-3 style in the top of the third, the Lady Tiger offense woke up. Jones launched a two-run homer to left-center to close out the third inning and slash the deficit.
The Lady Tigers did not stop hitting the ball out of the park. In the bottom of the fifth, Daniels and Walker crushed back-to-back solo home runs to left field, pulling Campbellsville within a single run of Freed-Hardeman's lead.
Daniels ultimately preserved Campbellsville's momentum and stole the advantage with her third home run of the day: a towering two-run shot to left field during the bottom of the sixth that put the Lady Tigers ahead 6-5. Coley, who tossed 5.1 masterclass innings of scoreless relief to earn the win, shut the door on the Lady Lions in the final inning, securing the comeback sweep for Campbellsville.
