Lady Lions fall to No. 2 in one-run thriller

March 4, 2023

by Dustin Semore, FHU Sports Information Director

GULF SHORES, Ala. - After splitting their first day in the Gulf Shores tournament, the No. 5 Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions took on their biggest test of the young season, battling the No. 2 University of Mobile (Ala.) Rams.

It was a pitcher's duel from start to finish with neither the Lady Lions (4-2, 0-0 MSC) nor the Lady Rams scoring across the first five innings. A leadoff single for Mobile (12-2, 0-0 SSAC) was the only hit the day for either team until that point as well.

Myleah Hardy got things started for FHU with a leadoff double, moving to third base thanks to Catherine Crabb's sacrifice bunt. Cassie Hayes had the same idea, hoping to sacrifice her at-bat to advance Hardy, but the bunt was a little too hard, not allowing Hardy to score the go-ahead run. A groundout ended the top of the fifth inning with Hardy stranded 60 feet away from home.

Continuing their late push, Madelyn Crabb led off the top of the sixth inning with a single, eventually finding herself at third base thanks to Karli Quillin's two-bagger with one out. An infield popup left M. Crabb stuck on third before a lineout to center field ended the Lady Lion threat.

The bottom of the sixth was kind to the Rams, leading off the inning with a single, but the Lady Lions quickly answered with two outs. The game came down to a deep double to left field where the Lady Ram wrapped all the way from first to home to plate the winning run.

C. Crabb started FHU's last chance with a single, moving to second and third after successive sacrifice bunts, but a popout ended the day with the Rams on top 1-0.

Brittany Adair (3-1) was charged with her first loss of the season, allowing five hits while walking one and striking out three.

Five different Lady Lions collected base knocks with Catherine Crabb, Madelyn Crabb, Myleah Hardy, Anna Kate Norton, and Myleah Hardy all getting hits.