Taylor Hodges, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. – The No. 12 Lady Lions softball team (2-0) finally got its season off to a start on Tuesday when they took down Martin Methodist (1-5) 3-1 in game one of a double-header and 3-2 in an extra-innings thriller.

The Redhawks got on the board first in both games, and they had a chance to really open things up in game one when they had the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning with just one out and a 1-0 lead.

That brought Breanna Owens to the plate, and she grounded the ball to pitcher Morgan Crawford who started a 1-2-3 double play to get the Lady Lions out of the inning unscathed.

In the bottom of the sixth, the home squad's bats got hot with three hits, all with two outs, and they took advantage of a single Martin Methodist error to score three runs and take the lead that would last until the game was over.

First, it was Brittan Jarrell who came around on a single by Kaylyn Graham. Laiken Page came in to pinch run for Graham, and she came around to score after Caitlin Mitchell hit a single to right field, and the right fielder committed an error, allowing the run to cross. Mitchell then advanced to second on the error.

The third and final run came across the plate after Savannah McGraw came into pinch run for Mitchell, and Crawford was able to drive her in with a single.

Crawford was in the circle in the opening contest and went the complete game, earning her first win of the season.

Game two was a thriller that ended in the ninth inning after the teams implemented the international tiebreak rule in the top of the eighth.

Martin Methodist scored first in the game to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, and the Lady Lions weren't able to tie it up until the bottom of the fifth when McGraw scored on an error by the Martin Methodist third baseman.

The score would remain tied through regulation, and both coaches decided that they would implement the international tiebreak rule to start extra innings, rather play a couple straight up.

The Redhawks jumped out to a 2-1 lead after a double by Sabrina Gilliam scored Addie Baird with one out.

The Lady Lions stepped up in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game when Jarrell – the team's tiebreak runner – crossed the plate off a Lilly Bombard single.

Freed-Hardeman still had runners in scoring position with just one out, but were unable to end the game in the eighth.

Emily Bradford got the start in the circle and went the full nine innings, striking out two batters, and was able to blank Martin Methodist in the top of the ninth inning.

Kristen Hunsicker was the tiebreak runner on second for the Lady Lions in the bottom half of the ninth, and she was able to advance to third base off of an Allie Mitchel single.

Annalise Jarnagin lined out to the third baseman for the first out, followed by a Jarrell walk to load the bases.

Graham – who batted in the third spot in both games – hit a single right up the middle to score Hunsicker and end the game.

The Lady Lions will travel south this weekend to play in the Gulf Shores Invitational. Their first game will be against Keiser University on Friday at 2 p.m., followed by a second game at 7 p.m. against Thomas University.