PULASKI, Tenn. - As has been their tradition the last few years, the Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions opened their season at the Martin Methodist Meltdown.

It had been four years since the Lady Lions opened the event with a first-day sweep, but that streak came to an end as FHU defeated Campbellsville (Ky.), 3-1, and Cumberland (Tenn.), 8-6.

Junior Sarah Elizabeth Cousar picked up where she left off in 2012 as she tossed a four-hitter and struck out 10 batters in the opener against Campbellsville.

The Lady Lions scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning, getting consecutive hits from Shelby Cummings, Cousar, Mercedes Norfork and Amber Vansandt. Cousar brought Cummings around with an RBI single and Vansandt followed with a two-run single to put FHU ahead 3-0. The damage could have been worse as Freed-Hardeman left the bases loaded in the inning.

The Tigers got their lone run in the fifth on a solo home run by Emma Napier.

FHU jumped ahead early again in the second game thanks to a four-run second, all coming after the first two batters of the inning were retired. The Lady Lions strung together five straight hits with Lauren Bradley's two-run triple capping it off.

Cumberland threatened to respond in the bottom of the inning but Kamara Trice pitched out of a bases-loaded jam and limited the damage by allowing just one run.

Norfork led off the seventh with a solo home run and Allie Carpenter later added a sacrifice fly to put FHU ahead 8-2 going into the home half of the seventh. The Bulldogs made it interesting, scoring three times before Cousar relieved Trice and fanned Devon Jamerson to close out the game.

Cummings went 2-for-3 in the first game while four players - Bradley, Cummings, Norfork and Bailey Morgan - all had two hits in the second game.

FHU faces a pair of ranked teams tomorrow, taking on No. 13 Reinhardt (Ga.) and No. 15 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.).