BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The #3-seed Campbellsville University Lady Tigers officially opened their postseason run at the Mid-South Conference Tournament on Thursday at Sparks Park. Campbellsville utilized a massive eight-run inning to run-rule the #6-seed Cumberland University Phoenix 10-2 in six innings, but ultimately dropped a tight 6-5 contest to the #2-seed Cumberlands Patriots in the ensuing winner's bracket match-up.
- Outfielder Hannah Hackworth highlighted the opening game's explosive eight-run fifth inning with a towering three-run home run to center field.
- Madison Reed was a consistent offensive force across both games, tallying a combined four RBIs, two doubles, and a solo home run.
- Senior pitcher Emma Markham earned her 11th win of the season in the circle against Cumberland, tossing five solid innings with five strikeouts, and later pitched 3.0 stellar innings of relief in game two.
- The Lady Tigers will look to fight to keep their conference championship hopes alive in the elimination bracket against the Georgetown Tigers on Friday, May 1, at 2:30 p.m. ET.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 10, Cumberland 2
The Lady Tigers struck first in the opening inning when
Karleigh Walker laced an RBI single up the middle to score
Korey Harris. The 1-0 advantage held until the fourth inning, when the Phoenix pushed across two runs (one via a bases-loaded walk and another on a sacrifice fly), taking a 2-1 lead.
Facing a deficit in the bottom of the fifth, the Campbellsville offense erupted for a massive eight-run frame.
Macy McCoy drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 2-2.
Madison Reed followed with a clutch two-run single to left field, bringing
Makayla Hogg and
Jessie Daniels across the plate to reclaim the lead.
Rylee Warner kept the line moving with an RBI single up the middle to score McCoy.
Moments later,
Hannah Hackworth provided the defining blow of the contest, launching a three-run home run to center field to clear the bases.
Lydia Jones capped the explosive inning with an RBI double to left-center, giving the Lady Tigers a commanding 9-2 upper hand.
In the bottom of the sixth, Reed stepped to the plate and ripped a walk-off RBI double to right-center, scoring Walker to enact the run rule and secure the 10-2 victory.
Senior
Emma Markham was credited with the win, tossing 5.0 innings, striking out five, and allowing just one earned run.
Ellie Coley tossed a flawless, scoreless sixth inning in relief.
GAME TWO: Cumberlands 6, Campbellsville 5
Riding the momentum of their opening win, the Lady Tigers scored quickly in their winner's bracket showdown against #2 Cumberlands.
Jessie Daniels ripped an RBI single up the middle in the top of the first to score Jones. However, the Patriots' Grace Ross immediately answered with a solo home run in the bottom half of the frame.
In the second inning, Reed crushed a solo home run to left field, briefly putting Campbellsville back in front 2-1. Cumberlands capitalized on a Campbellsville fielding error in the bottom of the second to tie the game once again.
The Lady Tigers mounted another charge in the third. Reed delivered an RBI single down the left-field line, and Warner ripped a two-run double to center field, giving Campbellsville a 5-2 advantage.
The Patriots refused to back down, matching the three-run output in the bottom of the third. Makenzie Henderson laced a two-run double to left-center, and Kristen Smith followed with an RBI groundout, tying the game at 5-5.
The score remained deadlocked as both pitching staffs settled in, with starter
Leah Holland and relievers Coley and Markham keeping the Patriots off the board through the middle innings. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Henderson managed to beat out a walk-off RBI single to the pitcher, scoring Emily Delgado to hand Campbellsville the 6-5 defeat.
The Lady Tigers will continue their postseason journey in the elimination bracket, fighting to extend their season and keep their NAIA National Tournament hopes alive.
