Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion softball team couldn't have asked for a better way to start the 2018 season Tuesday afternoon, as they came away with a sweep of Blue Mountain College with a 1-0 victory in the opening game followed by a 2-1 win in the nightcap.

Makenzie Prince (1-0) was solid in the circle for the Lady Lions (2-0) in the opening game, as she worked seven full innings and allowed just two hits while striking out eight. Kaylyn Graham led FHU at the plate, as she went 2-for-3 while Lilly Bombard contributed the lone RBI in the game with a walk in the seventh inning.

Montanna Smith suffered the loss for Blue Mountain (0-2), despite working a solid 6 and 2/3 innings and allowing just five hits while striking out five. However, Smith struggled late in the game, as she issued three walks, all of which came in the seventh inning, to aid the Lady Lions in securing the 1-0 victory.

It might have taken seven innings to do it, but in the end the Lady Lions were able to use discipline at the plate to bring home the late victory. Makenzie Prince got the inning started with a walk followed by a Kaylyn Graham single up the middle to put the game-winning run in scoring position. Annalise Jarnagin would also reach base on a walk to load the bases while another walk by Lilly Bombard would bring the game-winning run home to give FHU the 1-0 victory in their season opener.

The second game of the series with Blue Mountain was much of the same for the Lady Lions, as late heroics would be the deciding factor in the 2-1 eight-inning victory.

Hannah Wright (1-0) was solid in the circle for the Lady Lions in the nightcap, as she worked eight innings and allowed just five hits while striking out five. Montanna Smith (0-2) suffered the loss for Blue Mountain after pulling double duty and working seven more innings for the Toppers in the nightcap.

Abbi Gooch led the way for the Lady Lions in the nightcap, as she went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Lilly Bomard went 1-for-3 with a triple. Three other Lady Lion players contributed hits in the match-up.

The Lady Lions got their scoring drive started in the nightcap in the bottom nof the third inning, as Gooch reached first on a fielder's choice and scored later in the inning following an RBI single by Makenzie Prince to give FHU the 1-0 edge.

However, the Toppers would not go down without a fight, as they responded with a one-run fifth inning of their own to even things up at one apiece. Abbie Nowell got the inning started for Blue Mountain with a walk. Josie Anderson, pinch runner for Nowell, would score later in the inning following a misplayed grounder by Kaylyn Graham to keep things tight with two innings to play.

The tight match-up would not be decided in a regulation seven innings, as it would take eight innings before things were decided. The Lady Lions put speed on the base path in the international tie breaker, as Laiken Page started the inning on second base. Page advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lilly Bombard to put the game-winning run at third base. Abbi Gooch would take care of things from there with a single to shallow left field to score Page and give FHU the 2-1 victory.

With the win, the Lady Lions move to 2-0 on the season. Blue Mountain College falls to 0-2 on the season with the loss.

UP NEXT: The Lady Lions are back in action Thursday, February 15th, as they host a double-header with Bethel University. Game time is slated for 3:00 PM at Morgan Stadium.