CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University hosted the Royals of Johnson University on Tuesday at Hord Softball Field. The Lady Tigers used a dramatic seventh-inning comeback in game one before dominating the night offensively, sweeping the doubleheader. Campbellsville claimed game one 6-4 before earning a 16-0 run-rule victory in five innings in game two.
- Karleigh Walker played the hero in the opener, blasting a two-run, walk-off home run to cap a massive five-run seventh inning. She stayed consistent at the plate across both games, collecting five total RBIs in the sweep.
- First baseman Jessie Daniels recorded four RBIs on the day, delivering the clutch game-tying double in game one and a two-run homer in the first inning of game two.
- Lydia Jones showed absolute dominance in game two with a perfect 4-for-4 performance and three runs scored.
- Senior pitcher Emma Markham struck out 11 batters in the first contest. Junior pitcher Leah Holland tossed an outstanding shutout in the closing run-rule victory, allowing just four hits and zero walks across five innings.
- The Lady Tigers improve to 19-13 on the season and will be back in action on Saturday, April 11, as they take the road to face the Bethel University Wildcats.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 6, Johnson 4
The Royals started the game with a 2-0 lead in the first inning and later extended their advantage to 4-1 with a two-run homer in the fifth. Entering the final frame facing a three-run deficit, the Lady Tigers ignited an epic comeback. The rally started when
Riley Sprowles crossed home plate after
Korey Harris drove in the first run of the inning. Moments later,
Jessie Daniels delivered a clutch two-run double to center field, tying the game at 4-4. Stepping into the box with the game on the line,
Karleigh Walker secured the thrilling victory, blasting a two-run, walk-off home run to defeat the Royals 6-4.
Macy McCoy and Harris both enjoyed multi-hit performances during game one, while Daniels and Walker led the Lady Tigers with two RBIs apiece.
In the circle, senior
Emma Markham battled through six innings of work, striking out 11 batters, grinding through the Johnson lineup to keep the Lady Tigers within striking distance. Junior
Ellie Coley entered in the top of the seventh to shut down a late Royals threat, tossing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with a crucial strikeout to earn her fifth win of the season and perfectly set the stage for Campbellsville's walk-off heroics.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 16, Johnson 0
The Lady Tigers completely dictated the tempo from the very start of the second game of the day, opening the first inning with a massive seven-run outburst that paved the way for a 16-0 run-rule victory.
Campbellsville sent 11 batters to the plate in the opening frame alone. The barrage was led by
Lydia Jones' RBI double and
Jessie Daniels' two-run homer to left-center.
Madison Reed added a two-run single, while
Ashlan Estep and
Korey Harris each recorded RBIs during the inning to cap the 7-0 start.
The offensive dominance continued in the second inning as the Lady Tigers added three more runs, highlighted by a two-run double to left field from
Karleigh Walker. Campbellsville then added five more runs in the third inning to stretch the insurmountable lead to 16-0.
The Lady Tigers totaled a staggering 19 hits in game two, led by
Lydia Jones' perfect 4-for-4 performance with three runs scored. Harris and McCoy each added three hits, while Reed drove in four runs and Walker collected three RBIs.
In the circle,
Leah Holland tossed an outstanding shutout, throwing five scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and keeping the Royals completely off balance to secure the victory.
