HENDERSON — After the (RV) Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions dropped the opening game of a three-game set to the No. 15 University of the Cumberlands Patriots, the Lady Lions battled back to win the series with two wins on Saturday. FHU took the first game, 6-1, before eking out a 4-3 victory in the rubber match.
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Game 1
#15 Cumberlands - 1
(RV) Freed-Hardeman - 6
After the first two and half innings flew by, the Lady Lions (12-11, 6-2 MSC) scored three runs in the bottom of the third.
Christa Warren led off with a single before
Lana Rowland and
Chloe Carter each had RBI singles before
Alivia Eggleston drove in a third.
The Patriots (20-11, 5-3 MSC) got their first hit in the top of the fifth inning, but it was a big one with an RBI double sneaking inside the line in left. FHU answered the call with a two-run fifth featuring an RBI single from
Myleah Hardy.
Lana Rowland had a team-high two hits in the win, with five different Lady Lions driving in runs.
Katy Gartrell (4-4) had the complete game victory, punching out six Patriots.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 3
Christa Warren led off the home half of the third with a single before
Abbi Storey intended to sacrifice her at-bat to advance Warren, but the latter beat out the throw to put runners on first and second.
Lana Rowland promptly singled Warren home before
Chloe Carter's single plated Stori.
Alivia Eggleston then drove hom Rowland to take a three-run advantage.
FHU 3, UC 0
Top 5
After 4 2/3 innings without a hit, the Patriots' first base knock was an RBI double down the line in left.
FHU 3, UC 1
Bottom 5
Rowland led off the frame with a single, eventually scoring on
Myleah Hardy's RBI single. The Lady Lions took advantage of a muffed catch at the plate, turning a sure out into their fifth run.
FHU 5, UC 1
Bottom 6
Lynnlee Brown led off the sixth with a double to right-center, scoring on
LuLu White's clutch RBI pinch-hit single.
FHU 6, UC 1
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Game 2
#15 Cumberlands - 3
(RV) Freed-Hardeman - 4
The Lady Lions (13-11, 7-2 MSC) had the early offense, while the Patriots attempted a late-inning comeback. Aligia Eggleston's double drove home FHU's first run in the bottom of the first before FHU would add three more runs to take a 4-1 lead into the fifth inning.
Cumberlands (20-12, 5-4 MSC) scratched runs across in the fifth and sixth innings before eventually putting the tying run into scoring position in the top of the seventh. After a single, the Patriots hoped to send the equalizer home with a rundown, but the Lady Lion defense made the final putout before the run scored to wrap the doubleheader victories.
Myleah Hardy had two of FHU's 10 hits, with the remaining eight Lady Lion batters recording at least one hit.
Hannah Jones (6-2) got the victory in complete-game fashion.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 1
A one-out walk issued to
Chloe Carter paid off for the Lady Lions when
Alivia Eggleston would find grass in right-center to drivie Carter home with a double.
FHU 1, UC 0
Bottom 2
A set of two-out singles from
Lana Rowland followed by an RBI knock from
Karli Quillin sent a second run across.
FHU 2, UC 0
Top 3
The Patriots plated their first run in the top of the third frame with back-to-back singles and a deep flyout putting runners on the corners. An errant throw on a steal attempt allowed an unearned run to cross.
FHU 2, UC 1
Bottom 4
Freed-Hardeman answered with a leadoff single from
Christa Warren being the first of three for the Lady Lions. Warren would score on Carter's single before Carter herself would step on home with
Myleah Hardy's double to center.
FHU 4, UC 1
Top 5
Cumberlands added a run with a two-out double followed by a single.
FHU 4, UC 2
Top 6
Climbing back into the game, an RBI double made it a one-run contest.
FHU 4, UC 3
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Up Next
The Lady Lions will go on an extended road trip beginning with a visit to Campbellsville on April 3-4. FHU will next be at Tucker Field for a non-conference doubleheader against the Bryan (Tenn.) College Lions on April 10-11.
