FHU picks up home victory over Bethel

March 25, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. — After having weather bump their series back by a day, the No. 14 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions beat the Wildcats of Bethel (Tenn.) University 7-0.

The bats were hot early for the Lady Lions (10-6, 3-3 MSC) with Kennedy Harris-Bennett sending the first pitch FHU saw for her season's fifth long ball. Karli Quillin showed off her speed by legging out a bunt single before stealing second base. Moving to third base on Myleah Hardy's single, an errant throw allowed both Hardy to advance to second while plating Quillin to give the Lady Lions a 2-0 advantage. Sophie Dunavant's RBI double to right field would score Hardy for the third and final run of the first inning.

Cassie Hayes kept things rolling by leading off the second frame with a double to center field. With Kiersten Mesler's RBI single scoring Hayes, the Lady Lions chased the Bethel (14-11, 4-3 MSC) starter before Quillin would score Mesler with a single up the middle to give FHU a 5-0 lead.

Three straight singles from Catherine Crabb, Anna Kate Norton, and Hayes loaded the bases. After Crabb eased the pain of a double play by scoring, Brinley Cousar's two-out rip down the first base line would score Norton to end the FHU output with a 7-0 advantage.

Brittany Adair (7-4) earned the victory, tossing five complete innings where she struck out six Wildcats. Katelyn Bradford pitched two innings in relief to complete the combined shutout, striking out one and allowing one hit.

Both Sophie Dunavant and Karli Quillin led the charge for FHU, going 3-4 from the plate. Brinley Cousar joined Cassie Hayes with two hits each.