Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion softball team secured a sweep of Williams Baptist College Friday evening in their conference opener, as they picked up a 2-1 win in the opening game and a 4-3 win in the nightcap at Morgan Stadium.

The first game would take extra innings and an international tie breaker before the Lady Lions (8-7, 2-0 AMC) were able to pull out the 2-1 victory in the 10-inning opener. Makenzie Prince (4-3) picked up her fourth win of the season, as she worked all 10 innings and allowed just four hits while striking out nine.

Laura Helmich suffered the loss for Williams Baptist (2-6, 0-2 AMC), as she also worked a complete game and allowed 10 hits and one earned run while striking out four.

The Eagles struck first in the game, as they pushed one run across in the top of the 10th inning, courtesy of the international tie breaker rule, which by rule put a runner on second base at the start of the inning. That runner, WBC pinch runner Leslie Garza, would cross the plate for the Eagles following a misplayed pop up by Annalise Jarnagin to put Williams Baptist up 1-0 entering the bottom half of the inning.

However, the Lady Lions would not let the deficit get to them, as they came right back in the bottom of the 10th inning and pushed two runs of their own across to propel them to a 2-1 win. Emily Bombard scored the first run in the inning after starting the inning at second base due to the international tie breaker rule.

Bombard advanced to third base following a single to left field by Makenzie Prince and crossed the plate following an RBI single by pinch hitter Laiken Page to even things up at one apiece. Page eventually made her way around the base path to score the game-winning run following a wild throw to home by WBC second baseman Tori Johnson.

The Lady Lions; however, would not be satisfied with just the win in the opening game, as they came right back to pull out a thrilling 4-3 win in the nightcap. Mallory Spurlock (3-3) picked up the win in the nightcap after working a complete game and allowing nine hits while striking out five.

FHU wasted no time getting an early lead in the match-up, as they were able to push one run across in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. Caitlyn Carter scored the first run in the game after reaching on a single to right field and advancing to second base on a misplayed grounder by Eagle right fielder Leslie Garza. Carter would cross the plate later in the inning following an RBI single down the left field line by Makenzie Prince to put FHU up 1-0.

The Lady Lions added to their lead in the bottom of the second inning, as Mallory Spurlock opened the inning with a solo home run over the center field wall to give FHU all the momentum early on.

Both teams stayed quiet throughout the next four innings before William Baptist was able to push two runs across in the top of the sixth inning to even things up at two apiece. Tori Johnson scored the first run in the inning for the Eagles after reaching on a single to right field and crossing the plate following an RBI triple by Karoline Thomas to pull WBC within one run.

The Eagles made the comeback complete later in the inning, as Thomas also crossed the plate following an RBI single from Laura Helmich to even things up at two apiece entering the bottom half of the inning.

However, despite the late comeback, the Lady Lions once again would not be phased, as they matched WBC's two runs with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Makenzie Prince continued her strong day at the plate, as she pounded out a 2-RBI single to center field to score Caitlyn Carter and Annaka Baxter and give FHU a 4-2 lead entering the final inning.

The Eagles would rally late in the game once again with one run in the top of the seventh inning, courtesy of an RBI single by Tori Johnson to score Erica Arguello and pull WBC within one run at the 4-3 mark. However, one run would be as close as the Eagles could get, as Spurlock closed things out to secure the 4-3 win.

With the sweep, the Lady Lions move to 8-7 on the season and 2-0 in conference play. Williams Baptist College falls to 2-6 on the season and 0-2 in AMC play with the sweep.

UP NEXT: The Lady Lions are back in action Tuesday, March 13th, as they make the trip to Lyon College for a double header slated for 1:00 PM in Batesville, Ark.