Photo courtesy of the Bramblett Group
Photo courtesy of the Bramblett Group

Adair, Lady Lions shut out Phoenix

April 7, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

 

HENDERSON, Tenn. — Staying put in the latest NAIA national poll, the No. 14 Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions hosted the Cumberland (Tenn.) University Phoenix in game one of a three-game series. Brittany Adair struck out 11 batters in a shutout with a 5-0 victory.

Kennedy Harris-Bennett led off the bottom of the first inning for the Lady Lions (16-6, 9-3 MSC) by drawing a four-pitch walk. After moving to second thanks to Karli Quillin's single to left field, Harris-Bennett swiped third base. Quillin moved up with a stolen base, but after seeing the throw from the CU catcher bounce into center field, Harris-Bennett moved 60 feet to touch home plate. That throwing error mattered little with Myleah Hardy lacing a single to right field to move Quillin to third before scoring on Sophie Dunavant's groundout to give FHU a 2-0 advantage.

After Cumberland (17-12, 6-7 MSC) went down in order for the top of the second, Anna Kate Norton took advantage of a fielding error and a wild pitch to get into scoring position. Brinley Cousar sacrificed her at-bat to advance Norton to third base, where Harris-Bennett drilled a double down the line in left field to score Norton and give FHU a 3-0 lead.

Norton would lead off the FHU fourth inning by shooting the first pitch she saw past the glove of the jumping right fielder for a double. After Kiersten Mesler's single moved Norton to third, Cousar dropped another sacrifice bunt on a squeeze play to plate Norton and give FHU a 4-0 lead.

FHU would put a bow on the scoring with a set of doubles in the bottom of the fifth inning, first by Hardy hitting the fence in left field before scoring on Cassie Hayes' two-bagger to right field, finalizing the scoring at 5-0.

Brittany Adair (10-4) tossed the complete game shutout, allowing just two hits and one walk while retiring 11 on strikes.

Myleah Hardy and Cassie Hayes paced the Lady Lion offense, knocking two hits each with five more girls in maroon tallying one hit.


Up Next

The Lady Lions will be back in action against the Phoenix tomorrow, April 8, with a doubleheader at Tucker Field beginning at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.