HENDERSON — Despite adding a late run in game one, the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions softball team fell 2-1 in eight innings to the Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College Blue Raiders in game one. FHU then answered in game two with a four-run fifth inning to split their first Mid-South Conference series with a 5-4 victory.

Game 1
LWC - 2
FHU - 1

In the circle for the Lady Lions (10-9, 1-2 MSC), Brittany Adair was a menace by striking out five of the first eight batters she faced on the way to a 12-punchout performance. A single and a stolen base was the blemish in the top of the third when a single drove in the first run of the game to put LWC on top 1-0.

Brooklyn Jimmerson sparked the Lady Lions in the bottom of the seventh inning with a leadoff double before her pinch runner, Gracie Wilson, scored the tying run when Chloe Carter tripled to right field. The Blue Raiders (9-7, 2-1 MSC) caught a lucky break when Carter took off for home on what was a wild pitch, but a perfect bounce back to the catcher allowed a throw to the pitcher to place a tag and retire Carter and keep the game tied 1-1.

LWC scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the eighth after a single was followed by an RBI double. The Lady Lions put runners on first and second int he bottom of the eighth, but could advance no further to fall 2-1.

Adair (2-3) pitched all eight innings where she struck out 12 Blue Raiders in the loss.

Natalie Gilmore led FHU's offense with three hits while Chloe Carter had two.
 

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Game 2
LWC - 4
FHU - 5

The Lady Lions (11-9, 2-2) fell down early when the Blue Raiders held a 2-0 lead after three innings. FHU would begin making solid contact in the bottom of the fourth inning when Brooklyn Jimmerson, Chloe Carter, and Brinley Cousar all tallying singles. Kiersten Mesler's base hit drove home Jimmerson to give the Lady Lions their first run, though still trailing 2-1.

Adding two more runs in the top of the fifth inning, the Blue Raiders (9-8, 2-2 MSC) held a 4-1 lead when Karli Qullin led off the home half of the fifth with a single before Natalie Gilmore followed by drawing a walk. Alivia Eggleston then won a 12-pitch battle at the plate by doubling to left-center to score both Quillin and Gilmore to pull the Lady Lions within one run. With Gracie Wilson pinch running for Eggleston, a groundout and a passed ball tied the game for FHU.

Still int he bottom of the fifth, Carter's single was followed by a walk from Cousar. Myleah Hardy then hit a line drive that caught the top of the Blue Raider second-baseman's glove, giving Carter enough time to scamper home to score what turned into the game-winning run to set the score at 5-4.

Katelyn Bradford (2-0) pitched a great game where she struck out four while surrendering one walk.

Chloe Carter was a perfect 3-3 while Karli Quillin had two base hits. Alivia Eggleston was the top run-producer by driving in two.
 

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Up Next

The Lady Lions will travel to face the Georgetown (Ky.) College Tigers for a four-game series on March 22-23.