Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion Softball team captured the American Midwest Conference Regular Season Championship Wednesday afternoon, as they picked up a sweep of Missouri Baptist University with a 3-2 victory in the opening game followed by a 2-1 win in the nightcap in St. Louis, Mo.

Makenzie Prince (14-6) picked up the win in the opening game, as she worked eight solid innings and allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out six batters.

Caitlyn Carter and Kaylyn Graham powered the offense for the Lady Lions in the opener, as each went 2-for-3 at the plate. Annalise Jarnagin rounded out the Lady Lion attack after going 1-for-2, including the game-winning homerun in the eighth inning.

The Lady Lions did a majority of their damage in the top of the first inning, as they pushed two runs across to take an early 2-0 lead. However, the Spartans got one run back in the bottom part of the first inning to keep things tight the remainder of the way.

Despite pushing two early runs across in the first inning, the Lady Lions stayed quiet throughout the next six innings while Missouri Baptist pushed another run across in the sixth inning to even things up at two apiece.

Annalise Jarnagin; however, would not allow the Lady Lions to come away empty handed, as she pounded out a solo homerun over the center field wall in the top of the eighth inning for the eventual game-winner in the 3-2 victory.

Similar to the opening game of the series, the nightcap was tight from the opening pitch with FHU eventually coming away with the 2-1 victory. Mallory Spurlock (13-4) picked up the win in the nightcap, as she worked a complete game and allowed just five hits and one earned run while striking out four batters.

Emily Bombard led FHU at the plate, as she went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Caitlyn Carter and Kaylyn Graham each went 2-for-3 to continue their solid day.

The Spartans struck first with one run in the bottom of the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead. However, similar to the opening game of the double-header, the Lady Lions needed just one solid inning secure the victory.

In the nightcap, the solid inning came in the top of the third inning, as FHU pushed two runs across following back-to-back RBI singles by Emily Bombard and Makenzie Prince, which was all they needed to secure the 2-1 win.

With the sweep, the Lady Lions move to 28-11 on the season and 20-2 in conference play. The victory also secures a one-seed for FHU in the AMC Tournament to be held May 1-5 in Columbia, Mo. Missouri Baptist University falls to 29-20 on the season and 13-11 in AMC play with the loss.

UP NEXT: The Lady Lions conclude the regular season Thursday, as they take on Harris-Stowe State University for a double-header slated for 2:00 PM in St. Louis, Mo.