Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

COLUMBIA, Ky. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion Softball team continued to roll in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round Tuesday afternoon, as they took down tournament host Lindsey Wilson College with a tight 3-2 victory in Columbia, Ky.

Mallory Spurlock picked up the win for the Lady Lions (33-14) in the circle after working 2 and 2/3 innings of relief and allowing just two hits and no earned runs while striking out four. Makenzie Prince got the start for FHU and worked a solid 4 and 1/3 innings and allowed just five hits and two earned runs while striking out two.

Caitlyn Carter led the Lady Lions at the plate, as she went 3-for-4 with one scored run. Annalise Jarnagin and Emily Bombard also got in on the hot hitting, as Jarnagin pounded out a double in the match-up while Bombard connected on the game-winning RBI triple in the seventh inning to propel FHU to the victory.

The Lady Lions struck first in the game, as they pushed one run across in the top of the second inning, as Annalise Jarnagin opened the frame with a double to deep right field. From there, a single by Hannah Wright advanced Jarnagin to third base, where she scored from following a safety squeeze bunt by Morgan Warren to put FHU up 1-0.

FHU added another run to their total in the top of the fourth inning, as Annalise Jarnagin reached on a walk and scored later in the inning following a wild throw by Lindsey Wilson starting pitcher Annabelle Ramirez to give the Lady Lions a 2-0 cushion.

However, despite the early deficit, the Blue Raiders (40-16) were not phased, as they pushed two runs of their own across in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Alaeni Ray crossed the plate first for Lindsey Wilson following a wild throw by Makenzie Prince while Cassie Matlock scored off an RBI single by Amy Rogers to even things up at two apiece.

The game remained knotted up at two apiece until the top of the seventh inning, where the Lady Lions put together a two-out rally to push one run across and regain the lead. Caitlyn Carter got the drive started with a two-out single to left field. From there, Emily Bombard connected on an RBI triple to deep right field to score Carter and put FHU up 3-2, which proved to be all they needed to secure the win.

With the victory, the Lady Lions move to 33-14 on the season and advance to the NAIA Tournament Opening Round Finals, where they will face Saint Xavier for a 12:30 PM match-up in Columbia, Ky.

For more information regarding the NAIA Tournament Opening Round Columbia bracket, visit the Tournament Page by clicking here