Lady Lions fall to Toppers in extras

March 3, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

GULF SHORES, Ala. — After playing one game on home turf before the rains swept away what would have been game two, the No. 5 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions began their turn in the Gulf Shores Invitational with a 4-3 loss to Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) University 4-3 in nine innings.

After spotting BMCU one run in the bottom of the third, the Lady Lions (3-1) were held hitless until the top of the fourth inning when Catherine Crabb wired a single to the opposite field. After the bases emptied due to a double play, Myleah Hardy's bat struck for a single up the middle.

The fifth inning proved one of the most exciting when Cassie Hayes led off FHU's half-inning with a single to left field, moving to second after Brinley Cousar's sacrifice bunt. After a groundout planted the tying run in Hayes 60 feet away, but a great grab from the Topper (5-4) third basewoman ended the FHU threat. The Toppers came out strong in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles with one out. With the bases loaded, a smart play from Anna Kate Norton tallied a force out at the dish before a flyout to first ended the inning leaving three Toppers stranded.

Kennedy Harris-Bennett began the top of the sixth with a leadoff triple. Though not a conventional leadoff triple, the senior drew a walk before stealing both second and third. Harris-Bennett's baserunning set up Sophie Dunavant to sacrifice her at-bat by airmailing a fly ball to left field, more than enough to have Harris-Bennett tap home the tying run 1-1.

Utilizing the international tie-breaker to begin the eighth inning with a runner on second, FHU had trouble advancing Cousar after a set of infield popouts. After scoring her Lady Lions' first run, Harris-Bennett drove in the go-ahead run with a double to left-center to give FHU the 2-1 lead. The Toppers; however, took advantage of that tie-breaker to score a tying run in the eighth inning to move to a ninth frame.

Another two-bagger, this time from Norton, brought home Crabb to give FHU a 3-2 lead, but the Toppers would load the bases in their half of the inning, scoring the tying and walk-off runs to hand FHU their first loss 4-3.

Chloe Winters (1-1) picked up the loss, tossing all 8 2/3 innings where she struck out four while allowing eight hits.

Five Lady Lions each tallied a base knock.